Corpus Christi Facts
Fact 1: "Attention: Alligators, sharks, stingrays, and ... otters spotted near downtown Corpus Christi!" No, you're not reading from some bad B-movie script. Actually, the idea is not all that far-fetched, thanks to the efforts of the Texas State Aquarium. From recreated marine depths to coastal marshlands, the acclaimed facility one of the most unique situated on the Gulf of Mexico gives folks the chance to see, up close and personal, these animals and many more.
Fact 2: The USS "Lexington" is an Essex-class aircraft carrier constructed for combat in World War II's Pacific Theater. During her stint in the war, the vessel endured more than her share of close calls: torpedo strikes, kamikaze hits, and even collisions with sister ships. In fact, Tokyo Rose, an English-language Japanese radio broadcast intended to spread anti-American information and propaganda, broadcast several times that the "Lexington" lay on the ocean floor, sparking her crew to rechristen her the "Blue Ghost."
Fact 3: Graceful and eerily beautiful, the large "blue bags" you see floating on the waters of the Gulf and of Corpus Christi Bay are better left beheld, not held. Known rather ominously as the Portuguese man-of-war, this infamous species boasts long, waving tentacles. It's also respected and feared for its painful sting, a defense mechanism triggered whenever something bumps into it. Enjoy watching the creatures drift about, but do not touch even if you find one washed up on the beach!
Fact 4: Regarded by many historians as one of the most important events in Corpus Christi's history, a devastating hurricane struck the sleepy Gulf-side town in 1919, almost leveling it and killing several hundred people. However, from such hardship came future prosperity, when President Hardin promised and delivered enough money to dredge the then-shallow bay and make it deep enough to support large barges. The result? Corpus Christi became one of the Gulf Coast's busiest port cities.
Fact 5: Among the most noteworthy holdings in Corpus Christi's Museum of Science and History are artifacts recovered from the "Belle." This ship was under the command of Renι-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, when his quest to sail up the mouth of the Mississippi missed its mark by 400 miles. La Salle's misfortune continued when the "Belle" went down several miles north of modern-day Corpus Christi in Matagorda Bay during the winter of 1686. Rated by historians as one of the most significant ship discovery-recoveries in North America, the "Belle" yielded well-preserved cannon and iron shot, beads and jewelry (intended for trade with the Indians), bronze hawk bells, pottery, and even the remains of one of the ship's unlucky crew members.
Fact 6: Though the exact reasons for war remain unclear to this day, the United States and its southern neighbor engaged in a series of battles between April of 1846 and February of 1848 that is, after the United States annexed Texas in 1845. What does this have to do with Corpus Christi? Well, everything. The Nueces River, which flows south of the city and empties into Corpus Christi Bay, was once the border with Mexico; however, after the war, Mexico was forced to cede all land north of the Rio Grande to the US, making Texas the largest state until Alaska entered the Union in January of 1959.
Fact 7: "Water, water everywhere?" Okay, so maybe Samuel Taylor Coleridge didn't have Corpus Christi in mind when he wrote those lines, but they certainly do fit the city, which is almost entirely surrounded by water. In fact, recent studies indicate that Corpus Christi boasts more than 110 miles of beach- and bayfront areas.
Fact 8: Corpus Christi derives its name from a religious holiday. It was on the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi ("Body of Christ") in 1519 that Spaniard Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda discovered this balmy coastal region.
Fact 9: Kiteboarding is slowly becoming king along area shorelines, especially at Corpus Christi Beach, where bay waters tend to be calm and shallow. Indeed, you'll find few more unique ways to enjoy Corpus Christi Bay than atop a boogie board pulled by a large kite it makes for a great souvenir photo, too. Several companies rent kiteboarding equipment, and many offer classes for first-timers.
Fact 10: One of the area's favorite celebrations, SandFest highlights the handiwork of talented sand sculptors. Head to the beach at Port Aransas during this mid-April festival, and you'll see fascinating sculptures, which range from dead-on busts and hilarious caricatures to fantastical dragons and stately castles. In addition to the sculpture gallery, the event features food vendors and plenty of good times for the entire family.
HI: 86°
HI: 92°
