Corpus Christi in Nueces County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón

1712 - 1767

— First Colonist —

Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Marker (<i>front side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2018

1. Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Marker (front side)

Inscription.

Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón. (front side) Friendship Monument Linking the Cultures of Spain México United States . In 1746, King Felipe V of Spain, concerned the French would try to claim and settle the Gulf Plains from the Nueces River to Tampico, proclaimed the area to be the Northern Province of New Spain, named Nuevo Santander. Don Jose de Escandon, count of Sierra Gorda, was appointed Governor and given the task of exploring and settling the province. By 1755 Escandon had founded 23 settlements but was unsuccessful in attempts to settle north of the Rio Grande Basin. , In 1762, Escandon sent Capitan Blas María de la Garza Falcón to explore the Nueces River area, and in 1764 assigned him the mission of establishing New Spain’s northernmost colony near the river. Capitan Blas de las Garza Falcón successfully founded Santa Petronila on Petronila Creek, five leagues south of the river in present day Nueces county. The colony served as a presido (garrison) for the Royal Spanish soldiers who patrolled the perimeter of the province. , Santa Patronila was the first private land grant issued by Gov. Escandon. Capitan de las Garza Falcón brought his family, servants, friends, longhorn cattle, horses, other domesticated animals and farming tools to his Santa Petronila Ranch settlement. As the first ranchero, he introduced cattle drives, corrals and branding, thus establishing the famous south Texas ranching industry. It is believed he named Santa Gertrudis Creek after his only daughter Dona Gertrudis. , Capitan Blas María de la Garza Falcón came to this area in friendship. He established missions while offering his colony as a haven for travelers and settlers who pioneered and populated this region, leaving strong and enduring traditions. The strong Hispanic influence in our culture today is another of Capitan de la Garza Falcon’s legacies. His colonies in the province irreversibly imprinted the culture of Spain on that of present day Mexico and the State of Texas. , This monument symbolizes and commemorates our rich multicultural heritage. , (Reverse:) Dedicated September 7, 1992 A project of The Westside Business Association and The Devary Durril Foundation , Patron Sponsors Government of Spain City of Corpus Christi H-E-B Kenedy Foundation , Replica Recipients ... , Individual and Corporate Donors ... , Dr. Sherman Coleman, Sculptor .

(front side) Friendship Monument
Linking the Cultures of
Spain * México * United States
In 1746, King Felipe V of Spain, concerned the French would try to claim and settle the Gulf Plains from the Nueces River to Tampico, proclaimed the area to be the Northern Province of New Spain, named Nuevo Santander. Don Jose de Escandon, count of Sierra Gorda, was appointed Governor and given the task of exploring and settling the province. By 1755 Escandon had founded 23 settlements but was unsuccessful in attempts to settle north of the Rio Grande Basin.

In 1762, Escandon sent Capitan Blas María de la Garza Falcón to explore the Nueces River area, and in 1764 assigned him the mission of establishing New Spain’s northernmost colony near the river. Capitan Blas de las Garza Falcón successfully founded Santa Petronila on Petronila Creek, five leagues south of the river in present day Nueces county. The colony served as a presido (garrison) for the Royal Spanish soldiers who patrolled the perimeter of the province.

Santa Patronila was the first private land grant issued by Gov. Escandon. Capitan de las Garza Falcón brought his family, servants, friends, longhorn cattle, horses, other domesticated animals and farming tools to his Santa Petronila Ranch settlement. As

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the first ranchero, he introduced cattle drives, corrals and branding, thus establishing the famous south Texas ranching industry. It is believed he named Santa Gertrudis Creek after his only daughter Dona Gertrudis.

Capitan Blas María de la Garza Falcón came to this area in friendship. He established missions while offering his colony as a haven for travelers and settlers who pioneered and populated this region, leaving strong and enduring traditions. The strong Hispanic influence in our culture today is another of Capitan de la Garza Falcon’s legacies. His colonies in the province irreversibly imprinted the culture of Spain on that of present day Mexico and the State of Texas.

This monument symbolizes and commemorates our rich multicultural heritage.

(Reverse:)
Dedicated September 7, 1992
A project of
The Westside Business Association & The Devary Durril Foundation

Patron Sponsors
Government of Spain * City of Corpus Christi
H-E-B * Kenedy Foundation

Replica Recipients
...

Individual and Corporate Donors
...

Dr. Sherman Coleman, Sculptor

Erected 1992 by The Westside Business Association & The Devary Durril Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era

Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Marker (<i>reverse side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2018

2. Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Marker (reverse side)

• Hispanic Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is September 7, 1992.

Location. 27° 47.651′ N, 97° 23.51′ W. Marker is in Corpus Christi, Texas, in Nueces County. Marker is at the intersection of Lawrence Street and North Shoreline Boulevard, on the right when traveling east on Lawrence Street. Monument & Marker are located along the walkway, in the plaza, on the south side of Lawrence Street, between the south-bound and north-bound lanes of North Shoreline Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Corpus Christi TX 78401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Corpus Christi (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gutzon Borglum and the Corpus Christi Bayfront (about 600 feet away); 1941 Corpus Christi Seawall (about 600 feet away); Corpus Christi Fire Department (about 600 feet away); The Ranchero (about 700 feet away); 1966 Farm Workers Rally and March (approx. 0.2 miles away); Selena Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Niña (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corpus Christi.

More about this marker. Monument consists of a large metal sculpture of Capitan Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon on his horse, mounted

Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Monument (<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2018

3. Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Monument (tall view)

on a large, polished, purple granite pedestal. The marker consists of four panels inscribed on the pedestal.

Also see . . .
1. Cattle ranch near Petronila was the largest in the hemisphere.
Captain Falcón's Rancho Santa Petronila became the largest cattle and horse ranch in the hemisphere and its thousands of cattle and mustangs roamed the Wild Horse Desert from Padre Island to the Brush County. Falcón later brought the first longhorn cattle to South Texas as his herd of Spanish cattle grew to more than 20,000. The Spanish mustangs numbered in the thousands, as well. Mustang Island, now near present-day Port Aransas, was known as “La Isla de los Mesteños.” The horses used the dew that formed fresh water on top of the salty marshes to quench their thirst. (Submitted on June 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Captitan Blas María de la Garza Falcón.
On March 5, 1749, Garza Falcón arranged for forty families from Nuevo León to settle at Camargo on the banks of the Rio Grande. He founded the villa of Camargo, a presidio for the military squadron, and a mission, San Agustín de Laredo, for the Indians. Escandón named him captain and chief justice of Camargo, the first settlement founded on the Rio Grande. In 1752 Garza Falcón established a ranch, Carnestolendas, now the site of Rio Grande City, Texas, on the north side of the river. In 1767 Garza Falcón returned to Camargo, where he died and was buried in his private

Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Monument (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2018

4. Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Monument (wide view)

chapel, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. After his death the land grants were distributed to the settlers; his family received land extending from the Rio Grande to the Nueces River in South Texas. (Submitted on June 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Santa Petronila Ranch. Santa Petronila was the first Spanish settlement in what is now Nueces County, Texas. It was established in 1762 by Capt. Blás María de la Garza Falcón, founder of Camargo, Nuevo Santander, Mexico. The ranch was established as an outpost and way station for travelers between the provinces of Nuevo Santander and the missions of East Texas and served as headquarters for expeditions of soldiers who patrolled Isla Blanca (Padre Island), Mustang Island, and St. Joseph's Island searching for settlements by English or French soldiers. (Submitted on June 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Monument (<i>reverse side; wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 16, 2018

5. Capitán Blas María de la Garza Falcón Monument (reverse side; wide view)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2018. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 5,794 times since then and 844 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.