Historical Markers and War Memorials in Port Arthur, Texas
Beaumont is the county seat for Jefferson County
Port Arthur is in Jefferson County
Jefferson County(125) ► ADJACENT TO JEFFERSON COUNTY Chambers County(38) ► Hardin County(10) ► Liberty County(91) ► Orange County(67) ► Cameron Parish, Louisiana(3) ►
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The original engineer unit in the "Texas National Guard” originated in Port Arthur in 1916 and was designated
"Company A Texas Engineers.” The Company was first called into service in June 1916 for duty in the Mexican
border . . . — — Map (db m158054) HM
The 143rd stems from the Third Regiment of Infantry which was organized in 1880 from
existing companies of the Texas Volunteer Guard, five of which participated in the Spanish
American War. Company I of the Third Regiment served in the army of . . . — — Map (db m158090) HM
Son of Charles H. and Mary Stilwell, was born on October 21, 1859, in Rochester, New York. Young Arthur was greatly influenced by his grandfather, railroad builder Hamlin Stilwell, and according to family tradition vowed to be a railroad builder . . . — — Map (db m201802) HM
Birthplace of Babe Didrikson Zaharias (June 26, 1911 - September 27, 1956)One of seven children, Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants Hannah Marie (d. 1945) and Ole Didrikson (d. . . . — — Map (db m152242) HM
In 1923, twenty-five years after their founding, the Port Arthur Federated Women's Clubs began planning for construction of their own clubhouse. Mrs. C. L. Wignall chaired the planning committee, and her husband, local architect C. L. Wignall, . . . — — Map (db m201890) HM
In 1944, a group of citizens discussed establishment of a retirement home in Port Arthur. Federated Mission Society members from several churches served on the board of directors. Incorporated as the Community Retirement Home on August 28, 1944, . . . — — Map (db m154450) HM
Part of the huge transportation complex that moves petroleum to world markets. Traffic in oil tankers and barges in Texas mushroomed two months after the state's first oil gusher, "Spindletop," roared in. On March 11, 1901, the first boat to . . . — — Map (db m118630) HM
Built in 1900 as the winter home of Isaac L. Ellwood (1833-1910), principal developer of barbed wire. Architects G. C. Nimmons and W. K. Fellows, of Chicago, designed the house in a classic revival style with a raised Roman Doric . . . — — Map (db m151243) HM
The Federated Women's Clubs of Port Arthur is a league of sixteen individual clubs which represent a variety of interests and public service projects. Together, through the organization, they combine their efforts for the betterment of the . . . — — Map (db m151292) HM
This congregation traces its history to 1898, when a small group of people began meeting informally for Bible studies. In 1904, under the leadership of B. J. Waugh, First Christian Church was chartered with 72 members. Services were held regularly . . . — — Map (db m151554) HM
Frank Trost, the photographer of record on the day the Lucas Gusher erupted in the Spindletop Oil Field, came to Port Arthur in 1895 from Kansas City, Missouri, where he had been involved in real estate. He opened a photography studio at this site . . . — — Map (db m150445) HM
John Warne "Bet a Million" Gates (1855-1911), a native of Illinois, was instrumental in the early growth of Port Arthur. A prominent businessman and financier noted for his promotion of barbed wire, he became a leader in the development of the city . . . — — Map (db m150901) HM
< John W. Gates (1855-1911), a noted financier and philanthropist, set aside land at this site for a public library. In 1917, through the efforts of his widow Dellora (1855-1918), this classical revival library was completed. It was designed by the . . . — — Map (db m201990) HM
Noted musician Harry Henry Choates, whose career was shortened by an early death, was born in Louisiana in 1922. During the 1930s, he moved with his mother to Port Arthur, where as a child he began to develop and shape his gift of music. Known for . . . — — Map (db m151960) HM
Frederick Shepherd, who helped the Rev. Napoleon Harris establish an African Methodist Episcopal (A. M. E.) mission in nearby Sabine in 1902, founded this church at his Port Arthur home in 1903 with the Rev. Harris serving as pastor. The first . . . — — Map (db m171188) HM
A native of Port Arthur, famed blues and rock and roll singer Janis Joplin lived here with her family. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1960 and attended Port Arthur College and Lamar State College of Technology (Lamar University) . . . — — Map (db m158056) HM
Illinois native John Warne Gates (1855-1911) arrived in Port Arthur in 1899 at the urging of his business partner and town promoter, Arthur Stilwell. Gates' time here as a financier, entrepreneur and philanthropist left a significant legacy to the . . . — — Map (db m151350) HM
The Port Arthur Townsite Company, planning the layout of Port Arthur in 1898, set aside Lakeshore Park along the Sabine Lake shoreline. In 1920 a portion of the park was named Lions Park in honor of the Lions Club members who made numerous . . . — — Map (db m170652) HM
Some 30,000 dogs have
served America's military
in 20th century wars
They have served as guards,
scouts, trackers, messengers
or detectors of mines,
booby traps, explosives and
enemy soldiers
In Viet Nam 325 died in action
while . . . — — Map (db m150769) HM WM
This anchor is in recognition of, and a tribute to, those who served in the Merchant Marine of World War II, we salute the men and women who served aboard the ships of the following Merchant Marine fleets: Texaco Marine, Sabine Towing & . . . — — Map (db m150933) HM WM
The last remaining landmark of the "dream city" planned by the founder of Port Arthur, railroad magnate Arthur E. Stilwell (1859-1928). The house was built in 1900 as the winter resort home of Isaac L. Ellwood . . . — — Map (db m151004) HM
John W. Gates founded Port Arthur College in 1909 as a
nonprofit, non-sectarian, vocational school focusing
on stenography, accounting and communications. Gates,
one of the founders of the Texas Company (Texaco),
envisioned a school to . . . — — Map (db m150731) HM
Electric railways known as Interurbans existed in Texas from 1901 until the 1940s to provide frequent opportunities for the public to travel between urban centers. Interurban service between Beaumont and Port Arthur began on December 16, 1913, . . . — — Map (db m150381) HM
The rapid growth of the petrochemical industry in Jefferson and Orange counties in the early 20th century led to increased population in this area. In order to serve escalating transportation needs, plans began in the 1920s for the construction of . . . — — Map (db m150345) HM
Commemorating the lives of African Ancestors who perished during the Middle Passage and those who survived and were transported through Sabine Pass, Texas
1817 - 1837
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt . . . — — Map (db m243677) HM
Rock Island Baptist Church in 1910, a small group of Christians (known as the Sixth Street Baptist Church) began worshiping in Port Arthur. The following year, in 1911, the Rock Island Baptist Church organized when eleven members from the Sixth . . . — — Map (db m171639) HM
This building was constructed in 1915 as the new home of Port Arthur's First United Methodist Church, which had organized in 1897. The building was designed by C.W. Ward, and church member Warren McDaniel served as the contractor. A special . . . — — Map (db m201906) HM
Situated between Port Arthur and Lake Sabine and drainages of the Sabine and Neches Rivers, the Sabine-Neches Canal is a vital route for commerce from the Gulf of Mexico to port facilities in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange and other areas. Interest . . . — — Map (db m151622) HM
Laid out in 1835 on land grant from government of Mexico to Horatio M. Hanks. At least 160 blocks were planned. After the Texas Revolution, Banks' partner and agent Alamazon Huston sold first 15 lots on Nov. 27, 1837. Deed records show town . . . — — Map (db m201856) HM
The growth of the petrochemical industry in the southern part of Jefferson County in the early 1930s resulted in the need for extended county government services. State legislation was required in order to enable the county to build a . . . — — Map (db m150436) HM
Marker 1
On April 20th 1898, congress adopted the
following resolution "first, that the people
of the Island of Cuba are and of right
ought to be free and independent "second,
that it is the duty of the United States to
demand, and the . . . — — Map (db m158104) HM
John and Melinda Sparks and their family came to southeast Texas from Tennessee in 1838. They settled on the Jeremiah Mixon headright on Lake Sabine and later set aside land for a family burial ground. The land was acquired by the Port Arthur Land . . . — — Map (db m151354) HM
In 1915, Reverend S.D. Hackett introduced Methodism to the
historic westside of Port Arthur, creating Hackett Chapel, a
black Methodist Church, with seventeen faithful members. The
"prayer band" began meeting at the Ila Hall on West 7th . . . — — Map (db m201976) HM
On February 3rd, 1943 as the American troopship Dorchester neared its destination,
Greenland, it was torpedoed at 12:55 A.M. by a German submarine. The old ship
immediately began to sink. As the men clamored to the deck, the four chaplains . . . — — Map (db m150369) HM WM
Since 1937, the Hughen School and other related facilities have provided assistance to individuals with disabilities. The school grew out of a vision by the Rotary Club of Port Arthur to start a movement in the interest of children with . . . — — Map (db m151940) HM
The city of Port Arthur was platted in 1895 as the terminus of a railroad envisioned by Arthur E. Stilwell as the shortest route from Kansas City, Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico. The Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad was completed in . . . — — Map (db m150352) HM
The eruption of the Lucas Gusher at the Spindletop oil field in January 1901 established Texas as a major oil source and signaled the beginning of a significant economic boom to the state. The new town of Port Arthur benefited tremendously from its . . . — — Map (db m118631) HM
In 1896 Arthur E. Stilwell, president of the Kansas
City Southern Railroad, organized a townsite company
to settle Port Arthur. Soon afterward, R.H. Woodworth
(d. 1923) moved here from Chicago with his bride Mary
(d. 1946). They erected their . . . — — Map (db m150713) HM
J.H. Baxter of the Griffing Lumber Company built this residence in 1906 for R.H. Woodworth (d.1923). Wide verandas extend beyond the impressive columned portico of the Classic Revival structure. Woodworth, a business and civic leader, and his wife . . . — — Map (db m150368) HM
The 36th was a dominant element of the Texas National Guard for many years. Born of the volunteers who fought
for Texas independence and nurtured through more than 150 years of local emergencies, border conflicts, Indian
raids and International . . . — — Map (db m158057) HM
Twelve people heard the Rev. C. G. Kuppler of Louisiana deliver the last German Lutheran sermon in this area in early 1899. The small group applied for a regular pastor; the Lutheran Mission Commission sent Dan Poelott, a theological student, who . . . — — Map (db m172269) HM
Born in Rotterdam, Holland, Adrianus Jacobus Maria Vuylsteke (1873-1912) immigrated to the U. S. in 1893. In 1894-96 he moved to Texas and helped plat the town of Port Arthur. Following his marriage to Nettie Minerva White in 1898, they settled in . . . — — Map (db m150654) HM
In Recognition of Women's peacetime and wartime service to our country
Civil War 6,000
Spanish-American War 1,500
World War I 34,000
World War II 400,000
Korea 22,000
Viet Nam 7,500
Grenada 116
Panama 1,200 . . . — — Map (db m150744) WM
In grateful recognition of the supporting roles performed by the 442nd Infantry and
517th Parachute Combat Teams. The 442nd suffered severe casualties in the successful
rescue of a 141st Infantry Battalion caught behind enemy lines in the . . . — — Map (db m158494) HM WM
