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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox military installation |
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| name = Fort Crockett |
| name = Fort Crockett |
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| image = Battery Hoskins.JPG |
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| iucn_category = |
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| caption = Casemate of Battery Hoskins |
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| photo = |
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| pushpin_map = Texas#USA |
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| photo_caption = |
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| pushpin_relief = 1 |
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| map = USA relief |
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| map_caption = |
| map_caption = |
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| location = [[Galveston, Texas]], |
| location = [[Galveston, Texas]], United States |
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| coordinates = {{coords|29|16|29|N|94|49|01|W|region:US-TX|display=inline, title}} |
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| nearest_city = [[Galveston, Texas]] |
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| site_area = {{convert|40|acre|m2}} |
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| lat_d = 29 | lat_m = 16 | lat_s = 29 | lat_NS = N |
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| built = 1903 |
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| long_d = 94 | long_m = 49 | long_s = 01 | long_EW = W |
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| ownership = US NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service |
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| region = US |
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| coords_ref = |
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| area = {{convert|40|acre|m2}} |
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| established = 1903 |
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| visitation_num = |
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| visitation_year = |
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| governing_body = US NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Fort Crockett''' is a government reservation on [[Galveston Island]] overlooking |
'''Fort Crockett''' is a government reservation on [[Galveston Island]] overlooking |
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the [[Gulf of Mexico]] originally built as a defense installation to protect the city and harbor of [[Galveston]] and to secure the entrance to [[Galveston Bay]], |
the [[Gulf of Mexico]] originally built as a defense installation to protect the city and harbor of [[Galveston]] and to secure the entrance to [[Galveston Bay]], |
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thus protecting the commercial and industrial ports of Galveston and [[Houston]] and the extensive oil refineries in the bay area. The facility is now managed by the US [[NOAA]] National Marine Fisheries Service, and hosts the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory, |
thus protecting the commercial and industrial ports of Galveston and [[Houston]] and the extensive oil refineries in the bay area. The facility is now managed by the US [[NOAA]] National Marine Fisheries Service, and hosts the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory, |
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the Texas Institute of Oceanography, as well as some university facilities. The area still contains several historical buildings and military [[fortifications]]. |
the Texas Institute of Oceanography, as well as some university facilities. The area still contains several historical buildings and military [[fortifications]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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A military facility of the [[US Army Coast Artillery Corps]] on Galveston Island was established in the late 1890s. Construction got underway just in time to be disrupted by the Great [[Galveston Hurricane of 1900]]. The [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] spent several years rebuilding and expanding the reservation before it was re-garrisoned. In 1903, the facility was named Fort Crockett in honor of [[David Crockett]], US Congressman from Tennessee and famous Texas hero of the [[Battle of the Alamo]]. Following extensive repairs and upgrades, the fort was garrisoned by the US Army. |
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A military facility by the US Army [[Coastal Artillery]] on Galveston Island was established in the late 1890s. |
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Construction got underway just in time to be disrupted by the Great [[Galveston Hurricane of 1900]]. The [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] |
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spent several years rebuilding and expanding the reservation before it was re-garrisoned. |
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In 1903, the facility was named Fort Crockett in honor of [[David Crockett]], US Congressman from Tennessee and famous |
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Texas hero of the [[Battle of the Alamo]]. Following extensive repairs and upgrades, the fort was garrisoned by the US Army |
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Coast Artillery Corps in 1911. |
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[[File:Fort Crockett Parade Ground.jpg|thumb|Damaged Fort Crockett Parade Ground after 1915 Galveston Hurricane]] |
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During the First World War, Fort Crockett served as a US Army artillery training center. Troops bound for |
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France were trained in the use of several types of artillery. |
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During the First World War, Fort Crockett served as a US Army artillery training center. Troops bound for France were trained in the use of several types of artillery. |
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During the 1920s and early 1930s, Fort Crockett housed the United States Army Air Corps' (USAAC) 3rd Attack Group (an ancestor to USAF's [[3rd Wing]]). At this time, the 3rd Attack Group was the only USAAC group devoted solely to attack aircraft. In 1932, Fort Crocket received eleven [[Curtiss A-8|A-8]] Shrike attack aircraft, the US military's very first all-metal monowing combat aircraft. This delivery constituted the first delivery of this aircraft to a forward operational unit. By the mid-1930s, the 3rd Attack group had relocated to Barksdale, Louisiana. |
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During the 1920s and early 1930s, Fort Crockett housed the United States Army Air Corps' (USAAC) 3rd Attack Group (an ancestor to USAF's [[3rd Wing]]). At this time, the 3rd Attack Group was the only USAAC group devoted solely to attack aircraft. In 1932, Fort Crocket received eleven [[Curtiss A-8|A-8]] Shrike attack aircraft, the US military's very first all-metal monowing combat aircraft this delivery constituted the first delivery of this aircraft to a forward operational unit. After 1934, the 3rd Attack group was relocated to Barksdale, Louisiana.<ref>Note: Colonel [[Horace Meek Hickam]], commanding officer of the 3d Attack Group, was killed in a landing accident at Fort Crockett on 5 November 1934.</ref> |
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During the Second World War, Fort Crockett was expanded with an additional large gun battery, and focus |
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was placed on defense against German U-boats. Additionally, the Fort served as a prisoner of war camp. |
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During the Second World War, Fort Crockett was expanded with an additional large gun battery, and focus was placed on defense against German U-boats. Additionally, the fort served as a German [[POW camp]].<ref name="Krammer">{{cite book|last1=Krammer|first1=Arnold|title=Nazi Prisoners of War in America|date=1979|publisher=Stein and Day|location=New York|isbn=0812825713|page=[https://archive.org/details/naziprisonersofw00kram/page/269 269]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/naziprisonersofw00kram/page/269}}</ref> |
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Following the war, Fort Crockett served for several years as an army recreational center. |
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Following the war, Fort Crockett served for several years as an army recreational center.<ref>{{cite web | title=Historic Fort Crockett | website=NOAA Fisheries: Galveston Laboratory | url=http://www.galvestonlab.sefsc.noaa.gov/about_us/ft_crockett/index.html | access-date=Jul 18, 2017}}</ref> In addition to the attractions on the base itself (tennis, golf, etc.), the city of Galveston was a [[Free State of Galveston|major tourist destination]] with a variety of attractions, thus making the location ideal. |
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In the 1950s, Fort Crockett became home for fisheries research for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. |
In the 1950s, Fort Crockett became home for fisheries research for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. |
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In 1958 Texas A&M Marine Lab came to occupy part of the former army barracks. In 1963, the largest of the buildings in the Fort Crockett complex was renovated to house the new Texas Maritime Academy of Texas A&M University (Now called the [[Texas A&M University at Galveston|Texas A&M Maritime Academy]]).<ref>{{Cite book|title = Aggies by the Sea|last = Curley|first = Stephen|publisher = Texas A&M University Press|year = 2005|isbn = 1-58544-458-8|location = College Station, Tx|pages = 30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = History of TAMUG|url = http://www.tamug.edu/about/TAMUGHistory.html|website = www.tamug.edu|date = 2015-08-18|access-date = 2015-10-23}}</ref> |
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Due to the massive amount of concrete used in constructing the protective casemate for the guns and magazines, |
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Battery Hoskins proved uneconomical to remove. The abandoned casemates remained an unofficial tourist attraction |
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for decades. In the early 1980s, a luxury resort (the [[San Luis Resort]]) was built on and behind the battery. The massive concrete gun emplacements |
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remain dramatically visible from the seawall highway that runs along Galveston Beach, even though one gun emplacement now |
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sports a swimming pool atop it, and the other gun emplacement is adorned with a wedding gazebo. |
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Due to the massive amount of concrete used in constructing the protective casemate for the guns and magazines, Battery Hoskins proved uneconomical to remove. The abandoned casemates remained an unofficial tourist attraction |
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[[File:Battery Hoskins.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Casemate of Battery Hoskins today.]] |
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for decades. In the early 1980s, a luxury resort (the [[San Luis Resort]]) was built on and behind the battery. The massive concrete gun emplacements remain dramatically visible from the seawall highway that runs along Galveston Beach, even though one gun emplacement now sports a swimming pool atop it, and the other gun emplacement is adorned with a wedding gazebo. |
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==Defensive facilities of Galveston Bay== |
==Defensive facilities of Galveston Bay== |
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{{Infobox NRHP |
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| name = Fort Travis |
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| nrhp_type = |
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| image = FortTravis.jpg |
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| caption = Fort Travis on Bolivar Peninsula |
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| location = [[Texas State Highway 87|SH 87]] at [[Texas State Highway Loop 108|Loop 108]],<br />[[Port Bolivar, Texas]] |
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| coordinates = {{coords|29|21|53|N|94|45|29|W|display=inline}} |
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| locmapin = Texas#USA |
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| map_label = Fort Travis |
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| locmap_relief = yes |
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| built = {{Start date|1898}} |
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| builder = |
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| architect = |
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| added = March 30, 2005 |
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| area = {{convert|70|acre}} |
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| refnum = 05000247<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2013a}}</ref> |
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|designated_other1=TSAL |
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|designated_other1_date=January 1, 1984 |
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|designated_other1_number=[https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/8200001368 8200001368] |
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|designated_other1_num_position=bottom |
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}} |
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During the Texas Revolution, Galveston harbor and the entrance to Galveston Bay was secured by a small fortification located at the |
During the Texas Revolution, Galveston harbor and the entrance to Galveston Bay was secured by a small fortification located at the |
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north east side of Galveston Island, which corresponds to the west side of Bolivar Roads, the entrance to the bay. This was originally named Fort Travis in honor |
north east side of Galveston Island, which corresponds to the west side of Bolivar Roads, the entrance to the bay. This was originally named [[Fort Travis]] in honor |
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of [[William Barret Travis]], the commanding officer of the Alamo. |
of [[William Barret Travis]], the commanding officer of the Alamo. |
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In the late 19th century, the entrance to Galveston Bay was secured by two new fortifications, one on each side of the mouth of the bay. The "Fort Travis" name was |
In the late 19th century, the entrance to Galveston Bay was secured by two new fortifications, one on each side of the mouth of the bay, as the [[Coast Defense Command|Coast Defenses of Galveston]] (Harbor Defenses (HD) after 1924). The "Fort Travis" name was |
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transferred across Bolivar Roads to a new fortification on Point Bolivar, the tip of the [[Bolivar Peninsula]], which forms the east side of the entrance to the bay. |
transferred across Bolivar Roads to a new fortification on Point Bolivar, the tip of the [[Bolivar Peninsula]], which forms the east side of the entrance to the bay. |
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An additional new fortification was built on the north east tip of Galveston Island, and was named Fort San Jacinto in honor of the |
An additional new fortification was built on the north east tip of Galveston Island, and was named Fort San Jacinto in honor of the |
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===Coastal artillery batteries at Fort Crockett=== |
===Coastal artillery batteries at Fort Crockett=== |
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From 1924 through 1940, HD Galveston was garrisoned by Battery G, [[13th Coast Artillery (United States)|13th Coast Artillery]] (HD) Regiment as a [[Caretaker (military)|caretaker]] unit. In early World War II, two regiments of the [[US Army Coast Artillery Corps]] were headquartered at Fort Crockett, and manned four major artillery batteries, each supporting a different type of artillery. These regiments were the [[20th Coast Artillery (United States)|20th Coast Artillery]] (HD) Regiment, [[265th Coast Artillery (United States)|265th Coast Artillery]] (HD) Regiment, and elements of the [[50th Coast Artillery (United States)|50th Coast Artillery]] (Tractor Drawn) (TD) Regiment.<ref>[http://cdsg.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/FORTS/CACunits/CACreg1.pdf Gaines, William C., Coast Artillery Organizational History, 1917-1950, ''Coast Defense Journal'', vol. 23, issue 2, pp. 13-14]</ref> |
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In the mid-20th century, two Regiments of the US Army Coast Artillery were headquartered at Fort Crockett, and manned four major artillery batteries, each supporting a different type of artillery. |
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Though installed over several decades, the different guns were selected to provide both long-range and rapid-fire support. |
Though installed over several decades, the different guns were selected to provide both long-range and rapid-fire support. |
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Battery Izard contained eight 12-inch mortars. Battery [[Wade Hampton III|Wade Hampton]] contained two 10-inch "disappearing" guns. |
Battery Izard contained eight 12-inch mortars. Battery [[Wade Hampton III|Wade Hampton]] contained two 10-inch "disappearing" guns. |
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Battery Laval contained two {{convert|3|in|mm|0| |
Battery Laval contained two {{convert|3|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns, and Battery Hoskins contained two {{convert|12|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns. These batteries were supported by various fire-control structures, with radar and anti-aircraft guns added in the 1940s. |
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===Coastal artillery batteries at Fort San Jacinto=== |
===Coastal artillery batteries at Fort San Jacinto=== |
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[[File:4.7 In Ft. San Jacinto - NARA - 278147.tif|thumb| |
[[File:4.7 In Ft. San Jacinto - NARA - 278147.tif|thumb|left|Battery Hogan at Fort San Jacinto (1902)]] |
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Additional companies of Coast Artillery were stationed at Fort San Jacinto, located on the north-east tip of Galveston Island, commanding the southern portion of the entrance to Galveston Bay. |
Additional companies of Coast Artillery were stationed at Fort San Jacinto, located on the north-east tip of Galveston Island, commanding the southern portion of the entrance to Galveston Bay. |
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Battery Mercer contained 12-inch mortars. Battery Heileman contained two 10-inch "disappearing" guns. Battery Hogan contained two {{convert|4.7|in|mm|0| |
Battery Mercer contained 12-inch mortars. Battery Heileman contained two 10-inch "disappearing" guns. Battery Hogan contained two {{convert|4.7|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns, and Battery Croghan contained two {{convert|3|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns. |
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Battery #235 contained {{convert|6|in|mm|0| |
Battery #235 contained {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns and another battery contained 90 mm guns. |
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===Coastal artillery batteries at Fort Travis=== |
===Coastal artillery batteries at Fort Travis=== |
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One additional company of Coast Artillery was stationed at Fort Travis, located at Bolivar Point, commanding the northern side of the entrance to Galveston Bay. Battery Kimble contained two {{convert|12|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns. Battery Davis contained two {{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns. Battery Ernst contained two {{convert|3|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns. These batteries were supported by various fire-control structures, and radar in the 1940s. Fort Travis was served by a spur track until the Santa Fe Railway abandoned its Bolivar Peninsula trackage in 1942. |
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One additional company of Coast Artillery was stationed at Fort Travis, located at Bolivar Point, commanding the northern side of the entrance to Galveston Bay. Battery Kimball contained two {{convert|12|in|mm|0|sing=on}} guns. Battery Davis contained two {{convert|8|in|mm|0|sing=on}} guns. Battery Ernst contained two {{convert|3|in|mm|0|sing=on}} guns. These batteries were supported by various fire-control structures, and radar in the 1940s. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[13th Coast Artillery (United States)]] |
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{{Portalbox|Houston|Military history}} |
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* |
*[[20th Coast Artillery (United States)]] |
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*[[List of World War II prisoner-of-war camps in the United States]] |
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*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston County, Texas]] |
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{{Portal bar|National Register of Historic Places|Texas}} |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Fort Crockett}} |
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* {{cite web |title=Coastal Fortification on the Gulf of Mexico - Fort Crockett |url=http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/crock1.html |accessdate=November 30, 2006}} |
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{{Commons category|Fort Travis}} |
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* {{cite web |title=Coastal Fortification on the Gulf of Mexico - Fort Travis |url=http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/travis1.html |accessdate=November 30, 2006}} |
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* [http://cdsg.org/the-harbor-defenses-of-galveston/ Harbor Defenses of Galveston at the Coast Defense Study Group website] |
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* {{cite web |title=Pictures of an operational battery similar to Battery Hoskins |url=http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/16-inchbarbette.html |accessdate=November 30, 2006}} |
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* {{cite web |title= |
* {{cite web |title=Coastal Fortification on the Gulf of Mexico - Fort Crockett |url=http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/crock1.html |access-date=November 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206042516/http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/crock1.html |archive-date=December 6, 2006 }} |
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* {{cite web |title= |
* {{cite web |title=Coastal Fortification on the Gulfof Mexico - Fort Travis |url=http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/travis1.html |access-date=November 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206042759/http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/travis1.html |archive-date=December 6, 2006 }} |
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* {{cite web |title=Pictures of an operational battery similar to Battery Hoskins |url=http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/16-inchbarbette.html |access-date=November 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206042953/http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/16-inchbarbette.html |archive-date=December 6, 2006 }} |
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* {{cite web |title=Handbook of Texas - Fort Crockett |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/qbf12.html |accessdate=November 30, 2006}} |
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* {{cite web |title=NOAA's Heritage Success Story - Fort Crockett |url=http://www.preserveamerica.noaa.gov/success_crockett.html |access-date=November 30, 2006 |archive-date=December 11, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211234430/http://preserveamerica.noaa.gov/success_crockett.html |url-status=dead }} |
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{{Commons|Category:Fort Crockett|Fort Crockett}} |
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* {{cite web |title=History of Fort Crockett |url=http://www.galvestonlab.sefsc.noaa.gov/about_us/ft_crockett/index.html |access-date=February 28, 2013}} |
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* {{cite web |title=Handbook of Texas - Fort Crockett |url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbf12 |access-date=November 30, 2006}} |
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{{Davy Crockett}} |
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{{NRHP in Texas}} |
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{{Galveston, Texas}} |
{{Galveston, Texas}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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[[Category:Forts in Texas|Crockett]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Galveston County, Texas]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Galveston County, Texas]] |
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[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Galveston County, Texas]] |
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Galveston County, Texas]] |
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[[Category:History of Galveston, Texas]] |
[[Category:History of Galveston, Texas]] |
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[[Category:Davy Crockett]] |
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[[Category:Forts on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas|Crockett]] |
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[[Category:1903 establishments in Texas]] |
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[[Category:Military installations established in 1903]] |
Fort Crockett | |
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Galveston, Texas, United States | |
Casemate of Battery Hoskins
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Show map of Texas Show map of the United States | |
Coordinates | 29°16′29″N 94°49′01″W / 29.27472°N 94.81694°W / 29.27472; -94.81694 |
Area | 40 acres (160,000 m2) |
Site information | |
Owner | US NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service |
Site history | |
Built | 1903 |
Fort Crockett is a government reservation on Galveston Island overlooking the Gulf of Mexico originally built as a defense installation to protect the city and harbor of Galveston and to secure the entrance to Galveston Bay, thus protecting the commercial and industrial ports of Galveston and Houston and the extensive oil refineries in the bay area. The facility is now managed by the US NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and hosts the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory, the Texas Institute of Oceanography, as well as some university facilities. The area still contains several historical buildings and military fortifications.
A military facility of the US Army Coast Artillery Corps on Galveston Island was established in the late 1890s. Construction got underway just in time to be disrupted by the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. The United States Army Corps of Engineers spent several years rebuilding and expanding the reservation before it was re-garrisoned. In 1903, the facility was named Fort Crockett in honor of David Crockett, US Congressman from Tennessee and famous Texas hero of the Battle of the Alamo. Following extensive repairs and upgrades, the fort was garrisoned by the US Army.
During the First World War, Fort Crockett served as a US Army artillery training center. Troops bound for France were trained in the use of several types of artillery.
During the 1920s and early 1930s, Fort Crockett housed the United States Army Air Corps' (USAAC) 3rd Attack Group (an ancestor to USAF's 3rd Wing). At this time, the 3rd Attack Group was the only USAAC group devoted solely to attack aircraft. In 1932, Fort Crocket received eleven A-8 Shrike attack aircraft, the US military's very first all-metal monowing combat aircraft this delivery constituted the first delivery of this aircraft to a forward operational unit. After 1934, the 3rd Attack group was relocated to Barksdale, Louisiana.[1]
During the Second World War, Fort Crockett was expanded with an additional large gun battery, and focus was placed on defense against German U-boats. Additionally, the fort served as a German POW camp.[2]
Following the war, Fort Crockett served for several years as an army recreational center.[3] In addition to the attractions on the base itself (tennis, golf, etc.), the city of Galveston was a major tourist destination with a variety of attractions, thus making the location ideal.
In the 1950s, Fort Crockett became home for fisheries research for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 1958 Texas A&M Marine Lab came to occupy part of the former army barracks. In 1963, the largest of the buildings in the Fort Crockett complex was renovated to house the new Texas Maritime Academy of Texas A&M University (Now called the Texas A&M Maritime Academy).[4][5]
Due to the massive amount of concrete used in constructing the protective casemate for the guns and magazines, Battery Hoskins proved uneconomical to remove. The abandoned casemates remained an unofficial tourist attraction for decades. In the early 1980s, a luxury resort (the San Luis Resort) was built on and behind the battery. The massive concrete gun emplacements remain dramatically visible from the seawall highway that runs along Galveston Beach, even though one gun emplacement now sports a swimming pool atop it, and the other gun emplacement is adorned with a wedding gazebo.
Fort Travis | |
![]()
Fort Travis on Bolivar Peninsula
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Show map of Texas Show map of the United States | |
Location | SH 87atLoop 108, Port Bolivar, Texas |
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Coordinates | 29°21′53″N 94°45′29″W / 29.36472°N 94.75806°W / 29.36472; -94.75806 |
Area | 70 acres (28 ha) |
Built | 1898 (1898) |
NRHP reference No. | 05000247[6] |
TSAL No. | 8200001368 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | March 30, 2005 |
Designated TSAL | January 1, 1984 |
During the Texas Revolution, Galveston harbor and the entrance to Galveston Bay was secured by a small fortification located at the north east side of Galveston Island, which corresponds to the west side of Bolivar Roads, the entrance to the bay. This was originally named Fort Travis in honor of William Barret Travis, the commanding officer of the Alamo.
In the late 19th century, the entrance to Galveston Bay was secured by two new fortifications, one on each side of the mouth of the bay, as the Coast Defenses of Galveston (Harbor Defenses (HD) after 1924). The "Fort Travis" name was transferred across Bolivar Roads to a new fortification on Point Bolivar, the tip of the Bolivar Peninsula, which forms the east side of the entrance to the bay. An additional new fortification was built on the north east tip of Galveston Island, and was named Fort San Jacinto in honor of the final battle of the Texas Revolution, which established Texas' independence from Mexico.
At the end of the 19th century, Fort Crockett was established as headquarters for all three facilities. Located west of the city of Galveston, its long-range guns could command the entire area. By the first half of the 20th century, Fort Crockett had the basic equipment believed needed to defend the Galveston area from attack from air or sea.
From 1924 through 1940, HD Galveston was garrisoned by Battery G, 13th Coast Artillery (HD) Regiment as a caretaker unit. In early World War II, two regiments of the US Army Coast Artillery Corps were headquartered at Fort Crockett, and manned four major artillery batteries, each supporting a different type of artillery. These regiments were the 20th Coast Artillery (HD) Regiment, 265th Coast Artillery (HD) Regiment, and elements of the 50th Coast Artillery (Tractor Drawn) (TD) Regiment.[7] Though installed over several decades, the different guns were selected to provide both long-range and rapid-fire support. Battery Izard contained eight 12-inch mortars. Battery Wade Hampton contained two 10-inch "disappearing" guns. Battery Laval contained two 3-inch (76 mm) guns, and Battery Hoskins contained two 12-inch (305 mm) guns. These batteries were supported by various fire-control structures, with radar and anti-aircraft guns added in the 1940s.
Additional companies of Coast Artillery were stationed at Fort San Jacinto, located on the north-east tip of Galveston Island, commanding the southern portion of the entrance to Galveston Bay. Battery Mercer contained 12-inch mortars. Battery Heileman contained two 10-inch "disappearing" guns. Battery Hogan contained two 4.7-inch (119 mm) guns, and Battery Croghan contained two 3-inch (76 mm) guns. Battery #235 contained 6-inch (152 mm) guns and another battery contained 90 mm guns.
One additional company of Coast Artillery was stationed at Fort Travis, located at Bolivar Point, commanding the northern side of the entrance to Galveston Bay. Battery Kimble contained two 12-inch (305 mm) guns. Battery Davis contained two 8-inch (203 mm) guns. Battery Ernst contained two 3-inch (76 mm) guns. These batteries were supported by various fire-control structures, and radar in the 1940s. Fort Travis was served by a spur track until the Santa Fe Railway abandoned its Bolivar Peninsula trackage in 1942.
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