The History Center for Aransas County

05/15/2026

May is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month for local history lovers!

Be sure to add this special event to your calendar:

📍 Historical Marker Rededication – Frandolig Island (Key Allegro)
📅 Thursday, May 28, 2026
🕓 4:00 PM
📌 1789 Bay Shore Drive (Westside)

Sponsored by the Aransas County Historical Commission, this marker rededication honors the history of Frandolig Island, now known as Key Allegro, and celebrates an important chapter in the story of Aransas County.

These ceremonies are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the places that shaped our community and the people who helped preserve their stories.

We hope to see you there as we continue exploring and celebrating the rich history of the Texas coast!

Aransas County, Texas Texas Tropical Trail Region Aransas County Historical Commission Aransas County Historical Society Rockport Birding HQ

05/11/2026

MAY is Historic Preservation Month
Historic Preservation will be celebrated in the month of May. Governmental entities will read proclamations to hail the celebration. May 6 the town of Fulton will honor the month. On May11 Aransas County Commissioners’ Court will celebrate. And on May 12 members of Rockport City Council will hear the proclamation that states “It is important to celebrate the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated
individuals who help to preserve the many aspects of the heritage that has shaped us as a people; and Historical organizations in Rockport and Aransas County have endeavored to preserve and protect historical artifacts and material
about Rockport and Aransas County.”

Illustration Proclamation for Historic Preservation Month, May 2025

Aransas County Historical Society Aransas County Historical Commission Aransas County, Texas

05/09/2026

Previous winners of Awards for Historic Preservation include

(2021) Anne and Jeff Hunt, Rockport Cemetery Association, Friends of the History Center;
(2022) Jackie Shaw, Ty Husak, RCAD;
(2023) RCA and Upside Adventures, DRT, Friends of Connie Hagar, (2024) Goose Island State Park, Jennifer and Rusty Day, Special Tribute to Bobby Jackson;
(2025) Michelle Haas, Betty Stiles and Pam Stranahan (Sesquicentennial), Jennifer Day (exhibit from Smithsonian) and Jo Ann Morgan – Lifetime Achievement.

Illustrations honorees in 2024; award for Smithsonian exhibit event 2025

Aransas County Historical Commission Aransas County Historical Society Aransas County, Texas

05/08/2026

This is such a wonderful opportunity for the next generation of explorers, storytellers, historians, photographers, birders, and naturalists 🌎🦋📖

The future of conservation and local history begins with curiosity—and sometimes all it takes is one photo, one observation, or one outdoor adventure to spark a lifelong passion.

If you know a young nature lover, history enthusiast, homeschool student, aspiring photographer, or future scientist, we would love for them to participate in the Junior Historian & Naturalist contribution project through Rockport Birding HQ

Let’s encourage the next generation to explore, observe, document, and share the incredible stories of the Texas coast 💙

Rockport Birding HQ Texas Tropical Trail Region Aransas County, Texas Aransas Pathways Friends of the Texas Historical Commission Aransas County Community Outreach Aransas County Historical Society Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Bullock Texas State History Museum South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Aransas County Texas Maritime Museum

🌿🦋 Calling All Junior Naturalists & Young Historians! 🐦📜

Do you have a kid (or student) who loves nature, birds, or local history?

What if their observations didn’t just stay in a notebook…
What if they became part of something real?

At Rockport Birding HQ, we’re inviting young explorers to become published contributors on our site — sharing what they see, learn, and discover right here in Aransas County.

✨ Bird sightings
✨ Nature observations
✨ Local history finds
✨ Photos from the field

Their work can become a real page on our website.

This isn’t just an activity…
It’s a chance to observe, learn, and contribute to our coastal story.

📌 Access is limited to those with the direct link:

👉 https://www.rockportbirdinghq.com/contribute

(Parents, teachers, and group leaders — this is a great opportunity for classrooms, homeschool groups, and scout projects!)

Let’s raise the next generation of naturalists, historians, and storytellers 🌎💚

Goose Island State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife Aransas Pathways City of Rockport, Texas - Charm of the Texas Coast Explore Rockport-Fulton Texas Master Naturalist Program Group South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center National Audubon Society RockportFulton Public Group Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texas Butterfly Ranch Home schooling Ideas Rockport Girl Scouts Coastal Christian Homeschool H.O.S.T - Homeschool Organization of South Texas

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05/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CwxaCD3Nw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Trail Blazer Tuesday: The Path Forward | APSC Meeting Recap (May 5, 2026)
Aquarium Education Center, Rockport, Texas

Aransas Pathways continues to move forward—together.

Today’s APSC meeting brought together partners, leaders, and community members committed to strengthening collaboration, advancing site improvements, and aligning our shared vision for Aransas County.

With the presence of key partners including Goose Island State Park, Harte Research Institute, Texas Master Naturalist, Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the Rockport Cultural Arts District, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Aransas County Facilities Department, conservation experts, and members of the public—this meeting reflected a strong, united direction.

This is what the Path Forward looks like:
• Stronger partnerships
• Better visitor experiences
• Strategic site development
• Clear direction across our four pillars
• A growing, engaged community

Every conversation, every idea, and every action brings us closer to a more connected and sustainable future for Aransas County.

Be part of the Path Forward.
Get involved, stay connected, and follow along as we continue building something meaningful—together.

👉 https://aransaspathways.com/volunteer/

Birding. History. Kayaking. Trails.

Aransas Pathways Rockport-Fulton Visitor Center Explore Rockport-Fulton The History Center for Aransas County Rockport Fulton Chamber Aransas County, Texas Aransas County Community Outreach Goose Island State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas Master Naturalist Program Wild Delight Ocean Glory Homes The Inaugural Aransas Bird Days of Spring 2026 A Countywide Celebration of Migration Texas Sea Grant Harte Research Institute KRIS 6 News Aransas First Land Trust TroopMuster One Philippines News Texas Texas Tropical Trail Region Coastal Bend Filipino-American Association Tejas Prairie Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Aransas County

05/05/2026

History… we learn.
We teach.
We observe.

But sometimes…
sometimes it’s just fun!!!!!

Did you know Aransas County has not one—but two features that made it onto Ripley's Believe It or Not!?

We spend a lot of time preserving and sharing history…
but every now and then, we get to enjoy the quirky side of it too.

👉 Think you know what they are? Drop your guess below (no cheating!)

—or sneak a peek here if you’re stumped:
https://www.rockportbirdinghq.com/ripleys-believe-it-or-not-rockport-texas

Rockport Birding HQ Aransas County, Texas Texas State Library and Archives Commission Bullock Texas State History Museum The Blackland Museum Experience Downtown Rockport Texas
Explore Rockport-Fulton

05/04/2026

HERO for Historic Restoration
Richard Dias will be honored for his quality restoration of historic homes in Rockport.
Awards will be presented on May 15, 6:00 PM at the Aransas
County Community Center on Live Oak. Richard’s love of craftsmanship led him to this specialty. Restored properties include the Bruhl house, the History Center (Bruhl-Paul-Johnson house), the Wood house, and the Traylor house.
Richard, Joy and their two boys came to Rockport in the early 1980s to build condominiums on the golf course. What they thought would be a summer on the coast became a permanent location.

Aransas County Historical Society Aransas County Historical Commission Aransas County, Texas

05/01/2026

Reminder!

This will be the last weekend to see the Vaqueros exhibit!! This one had a tremendous amount of interest and feedback....don't miss it!!



Aransas Pathways

05/01/2026

History doesn’t stop at our doors… it’s all around you.
We’re proud to introduce a new Historic Markers experience through the Aransas County History Center in collaboration with Rockport Birding HQ.

Now you can turn a simple drive through Aransas County into a journey through time—exploring the people, places, and stories that shaped our coastal community.

Start here:
👉 https://www.theachistorycenter.com/histroric-markers

Then dive into the full guide and hit the road.

📍 Self-guided
📍 Local history
📍 Discover at your own pace

Where will history take you?

Rockport Birding HQ Aransas Pathways Texas Tropical Trail Region Humanities Texas RockportFulton Goose Island State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife

04/28/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18jQjKXHKT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/25/2026

Thank you Rockport Birding HQ for highlighting Connie Hagar and the History Center on your site!!

Aransas Pathways Texas Tropical Trail Region

🦅 Rockport Birding HQ Update — Go Get Lost (On Purpose)

Hey Rockport locals and coastal wanderers! We've been busy over here and wanted to share some fun stuff we've been working on.

🗺️ Challenge of the week: Grab your coffee, roll the windows down, and get lost on one of our self-guided tours. We dare you. The Then & Now Classic Birding Route will take you places you've driven past a hundred times but never stopped to look at. Post your photos — we want to see what you find! 👇

❤️ Hey locals — what ARE those red birds? You know the ones. Bright red, flashy, showing up in your yard. Cardinals? Painted Buntings? Vermilion Flycatchers? Roseate Spoonbills? There are actually FOUR stunning red and pink birds common to the Rockport area and most people can't tell them apart. The Painted Bunting alone will make you question if you're still in Texas or accidentally wandered into a tropical rainforest. 🦜 We wrote the guide.

🌿 Did ya know? There's a plant growing wild in your backyard that Native Americans brewed into tea for centuries — and European colonists literally suppressed it to protect British tea trade profits. Yaupon holly. It's EVERYWHERE in Rockport. Just… don't go taste-testing random plants without doing your homework first. There are some deadly look-alikes and we are NOT responsible for your plant adventures. 😅 Read the full wild story on the site.

🔭 One more thing — we just published the most complete page on Connie Hagar we've ever seen online. The Bird Lady of Rockport. The woman who documented 500+ species on this coast and had the ornithological establishment tell her she was WRONG. She invited them to come see for themselves. They came. She was right. Site #1 on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail is named for her — right here in Rockport at Little Bay. Go read her story. It's worth it.

🌐 rockportbirdinghq.com

What's your favorite red bird sighting around here? Drop it in the comments! 👇

Aransas Pathways Explore Rockport-Fulton Goose Island State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife The History Center for Aransas County Rockport-Fulton Visitor Center Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service