2006 Workshops

Maritime History of theTexas Coast
Focusing on the history of the Mid-Coast in the field and classroom

Co-Sponsored by the Texas Marine Education Association

and

Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve

September 22 - 24, 2006

Sparkling sand, clear blue water, and an abundance of freshwater rivers and creeks greeted early explorers as they sailed through the Aransas Pass and into Aransas and Copano Bays. Explore these same bays with TMEA as we learn a unique side of Texas history too often overlooked --- Texas Forgotten Ports. With instructor Jay Tarkington of Texas A&M and Captain Tommy Moore, we cruise Copano Bay on the M/V Skimmer to the sites of the old ports of Aransas City, St. Mary’s and the ruins of the first port in Texas, El Copano, which became the principal port for the support of Goliad, Gonzales and the Alamo. Probably no other port in history has been used by two opposing armies in at least two wars on an alternating basis – the Mexicans and the Texans during the War for Texas Independence and the Confederate and the Union troops during the Civil War! Saturday afternoon will be spent at the Corpus Christi Museum studying the LaSalle Expedition and the excavation of his flagship the LaBelle in Matagorda Bay as well as a presentation about the recent “dig” at El Copano. On Sunday morning, Pam Stryker will lead us in AIMS activities “Through the Eyes of Explorers” followed by a short TMEA business meeting.

Workshop fee: $97 (double occupancy) $147 (single occupancy) Reservations include lodging for the nights of Sept. 22^nd and 23^rd at the Best Western in Rockport, all meals on Saturday and breakfast Sunday morning, cruise, activities at the museum and AIMS workshop and curriculum. TEA accredited through the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.  10 hours of professional development credit will be given.

Reservations Deadline: Sept. 8, 2006. Please keep in mind that the spring workshop was full over a week before the deadline, so register early to avoid disappointment!  Print the registration form AND the dinner menu and follow the directions for returning both.  If you are interested in doing some summer background reading prior to the workshop, we recommend: Texas Forgotten Ports by Keith Guthrie, ISBN 0-89015-6661-1.

Marine History of the Texas Coast Registration Form and Dinner Menu

 

 

Friday September 22
Check in at the Best Western Inn by the Bay after 3pm - Dinner on your own.

Saturday September 23

6:00 - 8:00                   Breakfast at the hotel
8:15                             Depart for Fulton Harbor
8:30 - 11:30                 Maritime History cruise on the M/V Skimmer
12:00                           Lunch at Best Western
12:45                          Carpool to Corpus Christi
1:30 - 4:30                   Presentations at the Corpus Christi Museum on the                                    La  Belle and El Copano “dig.”
5:00 – 6:00 pm             Happy Hour in the courtyard from 5 - 6 (BYOB)
6:20 pm                       Depart for dinner
6:30                             Dinner at Charlotte Plummer’s

Sunday September 24
 

6:00 – 8:00                   Breakfast at the hotel
8:00 – 10:00                 AIMS activities “Through the Eyes of Explorers”
10:00 – 11:30               TMEA meeting
                                    Finish by about 11:30                                                                           Have a safe trip home