Site of Heldenfels Shipyard
Rockport, Aransas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Shipping industries flourished on the Rockport waterfront by the 1880s. Heldenfels Shipyard was established here on 12.9 acres in October 1917. Four 281-foot wooden cargo vessels were to be built for military use in World War I; the "Baychester" was launched on July 31, 1919, and the "Zuniga" on September 9, 1919. At the height of construction, over 900 men were employed at the shipyard. The need for ships fell as the war ended. Despite hurricane damage to the shipyard on September 14, 1919, the "Jasper" and the "Manchester" were completed as barges in 1920, ending this vital war contract. (1996)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
As World War I demanded ships, the Heldenfels Shipyard rose on nearly thirteen acres of Rockport waterfront in October 1917 to build four 281-foot wooden cargo vessels for the military. At its peak more than 900 men worked here, and the "Baychester" and "Zuniga" slid into the water in 1919. When the war ended and a hurricane battered the yard, the last two hulls were finished as barges in 1920, closing out the contract.
Why it matters
Wartime shipyards like this one show how coastal communities were mobilized into the industrial effort of World War I, only to fall quiet once the emergency passed.
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Related events
- · World War I
Themes & tags
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