Up the Brazos
Galveston Island
across San Luis Pass
(from what used to be
San Luis Island)
NOAA OCS
Texas Coast 1857
take a closer look
(scroll image right
then follow left)
A three day's journey by mail coach took the new immigrants along Galveston Island, across the island of San Luis, which is no longer an island, and then down the coast of the mainland of Texas to Quintana on the Brazos. (see image at right) I must admit that, while I was a bit envious of my ancestors and their mode of transport to Galveston, I had no desire to hitch a ride in a postal vehicle for my ride down to the Brazos. My eyes did gaze upon the nice shoulders along many of the highways and see how conducive they would be to bicycling. Bicycling or walking would have served to slow the pace down making my trip more like the one 150 years ago, but this slow pace would have left me with less time for visiting with those family members living today. So I was happy to have an automobile and a mere day's drive.
looking upriver from
the mouth of the Brazos
Peter Carl, his wife Amanda, and his son William all wrote letters about their trips which were used not only ahead of time to help us determine the actual route traversed, but also while we were on the road to aid us in imagining what the trip must have been like. Amanda's letter described the ride up the Brazos on the steamboat Washington in glorious terms. With stops at every community and farm along the way, the boat ride took five days, but those five days were spent in luxury: good food, pleasant company, fine accomodations, and the beautiful scenery of Texas floating past. Today the route to take is state highway 36. Since I was not behind the wheel, the scenery of Texas also floated effortlessly past me, a stop at Popeye's Fried Chicken provided some good food, and the time with family was as pleasant as always.
One of the aids to the imagination was a comment about the wisdom of young Eugen, Peter Carl and Amanda's 19 year old son. He warned not to let the horses stand in water even for a little while. I have no idea of the actual wisdom of this, but I know I made wise comments of my own on this trip. How easy it is to identify with the past!
Along 36 there are a few views of the Brazos. Brazoria, Rosenberg (no documented connection to my branch of the family), and San Felipe were the ones for which we stopped. At Brazoria, I did some cross country to find a picture of my liking. At Rosenberg there is the view with the easiest access of the three and a park for a picnic lunch. Then we reached San Felipe.
