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BAYTOWN,
TEXAS
Chambers/Harris
Counties, Gulf
Coast / East
Texas
I-10 and Hwy 146
30 miles E of Houston
Population: 66,430 (2000) 63,843 (1990)
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Baytown's
50th Anniversary was commemorated in a handsome tile design In front
of the former post office - now the Baytown Historical Museum
Photo by John Troesser |
History
in a Seashell
Nathaniel Lynch set up a ferry crossing at the San Jacinto River and
Buffalo Bayou in 1822. The ferry is still running today - across what
is now the Houston Ship Channel. Lynch's Ferry was burned by Sam Houston
just prior to the Battle of San Jacinto to prevent retreat. An embryo
community consisting of a store and sawmill was formed under the name
Bay Town.
Later settlers included Doctor Ashbel Smith, Mrs. Anson Jones, David
G. Burnet, and Sam Houston.
At the outbreak of the Civil War the Bayland Guards were formed by
Dr. Smith and the unit saw action at Shiloh and Vicksburg.
For the later part of the 19th century the area was remote and isolated.
The most popular entry into the area was by boat. With the discovery
of oil - the isolation was about to change.
Baytown
Hotels
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Mementos
of the oil industry are still present
Detail
on the Brunson Theater
Photo
by John Troesser
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A timeline
of Baytown significant events after the discovery of oil
1908: Oil is discovered
near Tabbs Bay.
1916: Goose Creek oilfield becomes famous as the first offshore drilling
operation in Texas.
1917: The towns of Pelly and Goose Creek develop.
1919: The Humble Oil and Refining Company is born. Company names the
site Baytown.
1923: Streets laid out and utilities furnished.
1947: Pelly and Goose Creek merge and choose the name Baytown. Population
- 20,958
1948: On January 24, 1948, the city of Baytown is officially established.
Tunnels
Baytown was served by two tunnels -The Washburn and the Baytown
-La Port Tunnel.
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Baytown
Attractions
Fred
Hartman Bridge
spaning the Houston Ship Channel.
The Baytown
Historical Museum
- in the former post office
Baytown
Nature Preserve
- 400-acre park - part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail.
Goose Creek
Stream Greenbelt
- park along the shoreline of Goose Creek.
The Lynchburg
Ferry
- across the San Jacinto River near the San Jacinto Battleground
in near-continual operation since 1822.
Nearby Destinations
San
Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
Battleship
Texas and
San
Jacinto Monument
Baytown
Hotels
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Here & Save
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The former Goose Creek Jail
Photo by John Troesser |
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Baytown's
tree in the street
Photo by John Troesser |
Baytown
Tourist Information
Baytown Chamber of Commerce - 281-422-8359
4721 Garth Road, Suite C, Baytown, TX 77521
http://www.baytownchamber.com/
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Baytown
Hotels |
Baytown Personalities
Baytown’s
DJ of the ‘50s, Bill “Rascal” McCaskill, Conducts His “Night Train”
Once More by Bill Cherry
"... It was 1954, and in Baytown, a new disc
jockey arrived at a somewhat small, sleepy and nondescript AM station
on Decker Drive... The new KREL disc jockey’s name was Bill “Rascal”
McCaskill, and for the next several years he brought notoriety to
Baytown the likes of which that city hadn’t seen before... And he
turned conventional radio programming in Houston upside down..."
more
Joe
Tex by Clay Coppedge
"A singer that critic John Morthland of Texas Monthly called
'by far Texas' greatest contributor to soul music.' ...
Joe Tex belongs, in the mind of most Texans, to either Baytown,
where his music career began, or Navasota, where it ended."
more
Gary Busey
"Did you
know that movie actor Gary Busey is from Baytown? In case his name
doesn't ring a bell he won an acadamy award for his portrayal of
Buddy Holly. He was totally believable and he even learned to play
a pretty good guitar while researching his part. He and the movie
band did several concerts after the movie was made. His Texas accent
came naturally." - George Lester
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Baytown
Texas Forum
Subject: Washburn
Tunnel
The Washburn Tunnel is still in use. I frequently drive thru going
to I -10 from Pasadena....Hwy 225. It still has the same cleaning
hours it did when I was a child. You would have to wait till they
were finished to get thru.
I also remember when I was a child my Dad would always buy us candy
at the local ice house on the Pasadena side. I am a native Houstonian.
Have lived in Baytown for the last 35 yrs. Thank You. I have enjoyed
your website greatly. - Jody McDonald, March 21, 2004
Subject: Baytown
tunnel not same as Washburn Tunnel
I grew up within several miles of the Baytown tunnel. As I recall,
the Washburn Tunnel was NOT the same as this one, but ANOTHER tunnel
further upstream, under the Houston Ship Channel or some bayou connecting
to it -- i.e. the latter was known as the Pasadena (or Galena Park?)
Washburn tunnel. The Baytown / LaPorte tunnel was roundish in cross-section,
while the Washburn tunnel was rectangular in cross-section. - Paul
Comeaux, July 16, 2003
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