Art By Wam

History
Experts believe the islands along the Texas coast began life as a collection of
submerged sand bars about 4,500 years ago. They gradually grew together, becoming
home to Mustang Islands' first inhabitants, the Karankawa Indians. "Mestenos"
(Mustangs) roamed on fields of wildflowers and tall grasses after escaping from the
Conquistadors that brought them to the island in the 1800's. European settlers first
named the tiny land mass Wild Horse Island, leading to present day Mustang Island.

Pirate legends and War stories color the history of Port Aransas and its neighboring
islands. Bands of buccaneers, including the scurrilous Jean LaFitte and his group made
use of Mustang Island's sand, burying a chest brimming with gold and jewels. To this
day, visitors enjoy searching for the treasure, allegedly marked with a Spanish dagger
with a silver spike driven through the hilt. Rebels also made use of the island during the
1846-1848 Mexican War, building a small fort to guard the entrance to Aransas Bay. This
fort was used until after the Civil War, during which time Confederate troops removed
and buried the lens of the Aransas Pass Light Station, now known as the Lydia Ann
Light House. This action was to render the tower useless to the Union forces. The lens
remains lost to this day.

The city of Port Aransas has undergone several name changes throughout its history;
however, the natural pass was first named "Aransazu," later becoming Aransas. Its
location was depicted on an 1833 map as Sand Point. Locals called it Ropesville in the
early 1890's, but changed its name to Tarpon by 1899 because of the large number of
the fish caught in the waters of the small community, now 250 strong. Citizens began
calling their town Port Aransas about 1910.

During the turn of the century, trade in the coastal village included sea turtle export and
fishing. Rich in both, its waters boasted 1000+ species of saltwater fish and turtles
weighing up to 500 pounds.

Today's Port Aransas is a very popular tourist destination for Birder's, Fisherman,
Sailors, Winter visitors from northern climes and summer visitors who come to enjoy
the beach and get out of the Texas interiors heat.

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