Fort Travis at Port Bolivar - April 17th, 2023
Take the Galveston Ferry to Port Bolivar on Teacher In-Service Day
Takes 20 mins to board the Gilchrist with Mayor Bob operating as well
We quickly climb above deck to watch the ramps lift and engine start
The props churn up a wake as we start to move away from the landing
To the right, the Battleship Texas is still in drydock on Pelican Island
Families head to the stern as the ferry puts distance between the landing
Two ferries not in operation this morning are the RH Dedman & JW Johnson docked at the Ferry Maintenance Operations building
The R. Stoker Jr. is in operation and is bringing a load from Bolivar
We pass Seawolf Park on the left with the . . .
USS Stewart (DE-238), USS Cavala (SSK-224) & USS Tautog (SSN-639) sail
The USS Selma is beached beyond the peninsula without a pavillion now
Unload 50 plus stale hamburger buns on ecstatic seagulls at the stern
We still have plenty of buns for multiple trips across!
Get back in the car as the Gilchrist approaches the Bolivar landing
Stop at memorial markers at the entrance to Port Bolivar's Fort Travis
Bolivar Point has been a military strong point as early as 1815
Jane Long came to Texas in 1815 & stayed at Bolivar Point in 1820
Supportors of the memorial purchased bricks with their names embossed
The first Fort Travis Battery we visit is Battery Ernst, built in 1898
Named for 2nd Lt. Rudolph Ernst who was killed in the Mexican War, 1847
Battery Ernst was the docking site for the Bolivar Ferry 1930-1950
The girls are feeding seagulls bread by the spotting station behind Ernst
Public bathrooms and the Mazda are beyond the spotting station
Drive over to Battery Davis to feed more seagulls
Battery Davis had two "disappearing" 8 inch breech loading guns
Named for Lt. Thomas Davis also killed in the Mexican War, 1847
Panarama of the Battery Thomas Davis . . .
Davis' guns could be elevated (greater range) & lowered (disappearing)
The seawall in front of it was built around it in 1903
David tries to hand feed seagulls but has no takers
Battery 236, built in 1941, is in the background
Battery 236 had two long range 6 inch guns
The two guns were connected by an earth & concrete casement
Overlooking the same gun platform toward Battery Davis
Zooming in on Battery Davis from atop Battery 236
Find an airvent atop 236 while other visitors investigate the area below
Looking NE toward Battery Kimble which we will visit next
Looking down on Battery 236's second gun platform
Atop the battery are two concrete encased vent pipes
Drop back down and capture Battery 236's casement entrance
Construction began 10/19/1942 and was completed on 7/05/1945
Completed at the end of the war, the 6 inch guns were never received
Walk back to the covered pavillion where the girls are feeding seagulls
After placidly feeding the seagulls for ten plus minutes . . .
The girls launch their charge toward their surprised beneficiaries
The seagulls are used to this treachery are are airborne quickly
The girls knew they had no change but loved the quick change in mood
Drive over to the fourth and last Fort Travis Battery Kimble
Built between August 1917 and April 1922
The girls still have plenty of hamburger buns to share with wary seagulls
Look back toward Battery 236 we just visited
Battery Kimble had two 12 inch guns with a range of 17 miles
This location has been a defensive position since the Republic of Texas
Named for Galvestonian Maj. Edwin Kimble who perished in WWI, 1918
One of a dozen batteries built across the US & the last surviving example
Stairway to the top is blocked off for safety (deteriorating)
Chemical Warfare Service Room and Switchboard Room are locked up tight!
But not as tight as the Officers Latrine . . . they heard I was coming!
Kimble's guns were transferred to South Carolina & was deactivated in 1943
Blue Crabs and Brown Pelicans are very welcome in the area
Possibly foundations of old barracks demolished by a July 1943 hurricane
Battery Kimble's second 12 inch gun platform
The circles made a great aiming point for aerial bombing!
Walk around the front to find the girls still feeding seagulls
Battery Davis left & Battery 236 beyond Battery Kimble's 1st gun platform
Walk to the water's edge to view the seawall first installed in 1903
Now looking southwest toward Battery Davis & Battleship Texas in drydock
The first Galveston Lighthouse was constructed here in 1852 but fell by 1865
A favorite forward observation post along the seawall
Too muddy inside to get a fun photo of the girls defending the shore
Erin makes a final photo of Battery 236 a little more interesting
A final look at Battery 236, completed after threat of invasion was long gone, and never even had the 6 inch guns installed
Finally board the Gilchrist again and depart after a one hour wait
Look over at the two other ferry landings to the left
The engines rev up churn up a wake as we leave the landing
The middle landing has a barge with crane doing bouy maintenance
Look toward Galveston as one ferry arrives and another leads the way back
Final view of the three ferry landings at Bolivar Point
The Mayor Bob brings its vehicles and passengers to Bolivar Point
The girls hit the stern and unload their final hamburger buns
Erin hand feeds a seagull, keeps all her fingers, and clothes poop-free
David hopes to feed a seagull by coaxing it to land on his hat
But the wind keeps blowing the bread off once released
The girls finish off the bread by sharing with others as well as the seagulls
The seagulls would happily have eaten much more bread than we brought!
Only container ships travel the Houston Ship Channel in the distance
First photos of Seawolf Park with the pavillion torn down and cleared away with the last visit in March 2019
The Battleship Texas in the distance may join the Cavalla & Stewart soon
US Coast Guard Station and Army Corps of Engineers building
Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas prepares for its next voyage
Return past by the sail of Tautog, the Cavalla and the Stewart at Seawolf Park
The R Stoker Jr has joined the RH Dedman & JW Johnson at the Galveston ferry landing dock by 330pm
Pull up beside the DC Greer before landing and heading back home
Pick up Rio at PetSuites and share today's adventures with each other