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Rockport Texas Cemetery

Updated: Jan 4, 2023

Rockport Cemetery in Rockport Texas is a beautiful place to visit and offers some unique historical records from our history. Located near little bay, Rockport Cemetery has been around for over one hundred years and counting. This historic cemetery offers visitors many different types of memorials; from family plots to veterans’ gravesites. The historical significance does not stop here! During early spring it has some of the most colorful wildflower blooms seen.



History of the Rockport Cemetary

This cemetery has served the citizens of Rockport and Fulton for over a century. The Rockport Cemetery has a rich history dating back many years. Some of the earliest burials in the cemetery took place in the late 1800s, and it has continued to be a place of rest and reflection for the community ever since. Among the notable figures buried in the cemetery are veterans of various wars, local business owners, and community leaders.




Oldest Grave at the Rockport Cemetary

The oldest marked grave is that of Emma Fulton (d. 1876), the granddaughter of George Ware Fulton, who was instrumental in the development of the area and was interred in the cemetery in 1893. A large number of burials took place here in 1918, the year of a devastating influenza epidemic. The cemetery contains the graves of veterans of the Texas Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The Rockport Cemetery Association maintains the historic graveyard and has had tax-exempt status since 1959.





Notable People Buried at Rockport TX Cemetery

The Rockport Cemetery is the final resting place of Colonel George Ware Fulton and Harriet Gillette Smith Fulton who were the builders of the Fulton Mansion (Oakhurst) as well as the founders of the Town of Fulton. During Hurricane Harvey, the gravestone monument of George Ware Fulton was knocked over. The Rockport Cemetery recently received a grant from the Margaret Sue Rust Foundation. These funds are needed to restore the cemetery grounds because some burial plots are no longer maintained by absent families.


Here are the driving directions to the cemetery so you can drive through and check it out.




We hope you enjoyed learning about the Rockport Cemetery. If you would like to learn more about Aransas county's history we would recommend reading our article on the History Of Aransas County | Rockportfulton.com

 


Who we are

The RockportFulton.com website is a comprehensive guide to the towns of Rockport and Fulton, Texas. The website provides a wealth of information about the local area, including events, activities, and attractions.



Arial View of the Rockport Texas Waterfront
Rockport Texas USA


Visitors to the website can find information about local festivals, markets, and events, as well as details about local businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also features a calendar of events, so visitors can easily plan their trip and make the most of their time in Rockport and Fulton.


In addition to providing information about the local area.


RockportFulton.com is also a great resource for those who are interested in the history and culture of Rockport and Fulton. The website includes articles and photos that highlight the rich history of the towns and their unique character.


Overall, the RockportFulton.com website is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Rockport and Fulton, or for those who simply want to learn more about these charming coastal towns.



The Town of Fulton Texas at sunset
The Town of Fulton Texas

Here are some additional links to help you explore the area

Thank you for visiting our page: Check out our new shop:





The Big Tree

Updated: Jan 4, 2023

The “Big Tree”, Is located in Aransas County on the Lamar Peninsula near the town of Rockport, Texas. It is considered one of the most famous live oaks in the world after being named “Texas State Champion Virginia Live Oak” (Quercus virginianus) in 1969. The “Big Tree” is still thought to be one of the largest live oak specimens in the United States.


The Big Tree in Lamar, Texas is a beloved local landmark and a must-see destination for visitors to the area. In this post, we'll take a closer look at the history, description, and cultural significance of the Big Tree.


The Big Tree is a beloved local landmark and a symbol of the community's history and culture.


Despite the widespread, historically significant devastation of the surrounding region, the “Big Tree” was relatively unscathed by Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 hurricane that hit Rockport Texas on August 25, 2017



Visiting the “Big Tree” today is easy with available roadside parking. The base of the tree is cordoned off to dissuade climbers, but visitors are nonetheless able to stand below the crown to appreciate the tree’s massive size.


The Big Tree is an impressive sight, with a massive trunk and a canopy that spans over 100 feet. The tree is located in a small park in Lamar, surrounded by a grassy lawn and a wooden fence. Visitors can walk around the tree and marvel at its size, or rest on one of the benches located nearby.


If you would like to visit the big tree here is a map of how to get there:




Map to get to the Big Tree

According to climatologists, the “Big Tree” has survived between forty and fifty major hurricanes, including the most recent, Harvey, and numerous floods, droughts, and wildfires.

The Texas Forest Service estimates the tree to be over 1,000 years old, while other recent estimates place it nearer to 2,000 years old. Also known as Bishop Oak and Lamar Oak, the “Big Tree” is a charter member (#16) of the Live Oak Society and has been the subject of one of Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” cartoons. The “Big Tree” is possibly the oldest extant live oak in the world. It possesses a circumference of over 35 feet and is more than 45 feet tall, while the crown’s spread is 90 feet.



“Record” or “champion” trees are determined by a cumulative measure of their girth, their spread, and their height, however, the near-continuous Gulf breeze limits the height of the “Big Tree”; therefore, there exist many other live oak specimens that are actually taller, but once girth is factored in, that measure makes the “Big Tree” the second-largest live oak in Texas.

The “Big Tree” statistics:

  1. Trunk circumference: 35 feet 1.75 inches or 10.71 meters

  2. Average trunk diameter: 11 feet 2.25 inches or 3.41 meters

  3. Crown spread: 89 feet or 27.1 meters

  4. Height: 44 feet or 13.4 meters

  5. Age: Exact age is unknown – but it is centuries old.



Here is what some of its many visitors have had to say about it:




Google review of The Big Tree by John T. Ferguson ★★★★★ “This is the one of the biggest trees in texas. So it’s really big. it’s really nice to look at. There are whooping cranes around in the area if you’re interested in that. The only thing that I would ding them on is there’s no restroom.”

Google review of The Big Tree by Shirley Roberg ★★★★★ “This was an amazing must see! Pictures and words alone won’t do the trick”


Who we are

The RockportFulton.com website is a comprehensive guide to the towns of Rockport and Fulton, Texas. The website provides a wealth of information about the local area, including events, activities, and attractions.



Arial View of the Rockport Texas Waterfront
Rockport Texas USA


Visitors to the website can find information about local festivals, markets, and events, as well as details about local businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also features a calendar of events, so visitors can easily plan their trip and make the most of their time in Rockport and Fulton.


In addition to providing information about the local area.


RockportFulton.com is also a great resource for those who are interested in the history and culture of Rockport and Fulton. The website includes articles and photos that highlight the rich history of the towns and their unique character.


Overall, the RockportFulton.com website is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Rockport and Fulton, or for those who simply want to learn more about these charming coastal towns.



The Town of Fulton Texas at sunset
The Town of Fulton Texas

Here are some additional links to help you explore the area

Thank you for visiting our page: Check out our new shop:





We are RockportFulton.com your personal guide to everything in the beautiful Aransas County of Texas and we have a lot for you! Be sure to visit our Home Page, where there will be lots more information available on all things local including events going on now or coming soon that might pique your interest as well as fun facts about this area’s rich history, and things to explore.



Estelle Stair Gallery

Updated: Apr 26, 2023

Estelle Stair Gallery Downtown Rockport Texas
Estelle Stair Gallery Downtown Rockport Texas

The Estelle Stair Gallery is located in the heart of downtown Rockport, Texas just a short walk from the city's main shopping and Rockport Cultural Arts District. The gallery's showroom is a beautiful, light-filled space that showcases a wide variety of custom artwork. The showroom is open to the public, and visitors are welcome to browse and admire the gallery's creations at their leisure.


The building was originally built in 1866 and was originally two stories. History records show the building had to be rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in 1895. It is considered one of the oldest and most recognized structures along Austin Street in the downtown Rockport Texas area. it is located at 406 South Austin Street, Rockport Texas.


Here are the directions to the Gallery




Standing proudly in Rockport, Texas since the late 19th century is Brunner’s Mercantile building. Native Dane Simon Sorenson purchased the building in 1886 and it was rebuilt after a fire in 1895. For years, Brunner's served as an important location for Rockport's citizens to receive on-the-minute weather reports as Sorenson would telegraph updates to their shop and post them in their display windows. To this day, Rockport’s citizens remember with fondness those days when alert flags were raised around town according to Sorenson's assessments of impending storms and hurricanes such as Hurricane Celia which damaged the store in 1970. Till 1978, the Estelle Stair Gallery and Rockport Art Association moved into this historic building; under Stair's enthusiastic patronage, Rockport Art flourished as she nurtured the growing arts and culture scene. The load-bearing masonry building features a unique five-bay brickwork façade with arches, pilasters capped along a stepped parapet which adds even further historic charm to this downtown Rockport treasure. The Coastal Mercantile is now in the building. The store features the best that downtown Rockport has to offer.


Take a good look at Downtown Rockport from our Virtual Tour

Here is their Phone Number and hours of operation:

Phone Number: +13614631059


Hours of operation:

  • Thursday 11 AM–4 PM

  • Friday 11 AM–4 PM

  • Saturday 11 AM–4 PM

  • Sunday Closed

  • Monday Closed

  • Tuesday Closed

  • Wednesday Closed


The building has a historical marker that reads:

Simon Sorenson, a native of Denmark, bought Brunner's Mercantile at this site in 1886. The building was originally two stories, rebuilt after an 1895 fire. The Sorensons received weather reports by telegraph, posted updates in the display windows, and raised warning flags as necessary. Hurricane Celia damaged the building and stock in 1970. In 1978 the Estelle Stair Gallery and the Rockport Art Association were housed here. Stair nurtured the growing art community. The load-bearing masonry building features a distinctive five-bay brick façade, with brick entry arches and pilasters capped along the stepped parapet. (2008)


Who we are

The RockportFulton.com website is a comprehensive guide to the towns of Rockport and Fulton, Texas. The website provides a wealth of information about the local area, including events, activities, and attractions.



Arial View of the Rockport Texas Waterfront
Rockport Texas USA


Visitors to the website can find information about local festivals, markets, and events, as well as details about local businesses, restaurants, and accommodations. The website also features a calendar of events, so visitors can easily plan their trip and make the most of their time in Rockport and Fulton.


In addition to providing information about the local area.


RockportFulton.com is also a great resource for those who are interested in the history and culture of Rockport and Fulton. The website includes articles and photos that highlight the rich history of the towns and their unique character.


Overall, the RockportFulton.com website is an excellent resource for anyone planning a trip to Rockport and Fulton, or for those who simply want to learn more about these charming coastal towns.



The Town of Fulton Texas at sunset
The Town of Fulton Texas

Here are some additional links to help you explore the area

Thank you for visiting our page:


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