Port Aransas Museum

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Port Aransas Museum The Port Aransas Museum was opened in 2008 by the Port Aransas Preservation and Historical Associati

10/19/2026

This tradition wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors! Thank you, Chris's Marine and Haynie Boats, for your Chief Sponsorship ⚓
Chris’s Marine is located at 1213 W Wheeler Ave in
Aransas Pass, TX 78336

👻 Today we’re continuing our series of Ghosts, Legends, and Lore; the stories that linger in Port A by talking about The...
10/18/2026

👻 Today we’re continuing our series of Ghosts, Legends, and Lore; the stories that linger in Port A by talking about The Ghosts of the Tarpon Inn!

The Tarpon Inn is known for its fishing history, but some of its most chilling stories have nothing to do with what was caught in the Gulf…

👰 The Bride Who Never Left: One of the inn’s best-known ghost stories tells of a bride whose groom supposedly disappeared on their wedding night. Heartbroken, she allegedly died in the honeymoon suite. Guests have since reported a lingering floral perfume and sightings of a woman near the bed. Some versions of the tale associate it with Room 26, while others name Room 29.

👀 The Woman in Room 40: Room 40 has its own eerie reputation. Guests and staff have described an unsettling feeling inside the room, and some visitors claim to have seen a woman standing at the foot of the bed.

🍳 Strange Happenings in the Kitchen: Former Tarpon Inn employees have reported hearing loud clattering from the locked kitchen after hours. One former cook reportedly arrived to find utensils scattered across the counters and flour, cornmeal, cups, and saucers moved from their usual places as if someone unseen had been busy overnight.

Whether these are ghostly encounters or stories that have grown with each retelling, they’ve become part of the Tarpon Inn’s mysterious legacy. And in a historic place like Port Aransas, some tales are hard to leave behind. 🕯️

💬 Have you heard stories or experienced something eerie there? Let us know in the comments below!

⚓️ Save the Date for the Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival! 🛶Join us November 6–8, 2026, at Roberts Point Park for three...
10/15/2026

⚓️ Save the Date for the Port Aransas Wooden Boat Festival! 🛶

Join us November 6–8, 2026, at Roberts Point Park for three days of handcrafted boats, maritime history, family fun, and a celebration of Port Aransas’ rich boatbuilding heritage!

Since 2014, the Wooden Boat Festival has brought together boatbuilders, history lovers, families, and visitors to celebrate the craftsmanship and traditions that make our coastal community so special. From handcrafted kayaks and paddleboards to skiffs, sailboats, and historic Farley boats, there’s something for everyone to discover!

🛠️ Thinking about building a boat? Meet builders, explore different designs, and get inspired by the craftsmanship on display.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Be part of the Family Boat Build! Every year, families take on the exciting challenge of building a boat together during the festival and launching their finished boat before the weekend is over! No boatbuilding experience? This is a chance to learn new skills, work as a team, and create a one-of-a-kind family memory. We’re looking for a few more families to join the fun! Could your family be one of them? Sign up and be part of this unforgettable festival tradition!

Whether you're a seasoned boatbuilder, a maritime history enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun weekend in Port A, we hope you'll join us!

📅 November 6–8, 2026
📍 Roberts Point Park | Port Aransas, TX
🌐 Visit woodenboatfestival.org for the full schedule, registration details, and more information.

Help us celebrate the boats, builders, and traditions that keep Port Aransas’ maritime history alive. We’ll see you at the festival! ⚓️

10/15/2026

This tradition wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors! Thank you, QXO, for your Chief Sponsorship ⚓
QXO is located right here in Port Aransas at
2120 TX HWY 361
​Port Aransas, Texas 78373

10/13/2026

This tradition wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors! Thank you Susan Castor Collection for your Chief Sponsorship⚓

10/13/2026

This tradition wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors! Thank you Bernsen Coastal Builders, LLC for your Captain Sponsorship⚓

10/13/2026

This tradition wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors! Thank you Visit Port Aransas for your Admiral Sponsorship⚓

10/13/2026

This tradition wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors! Thank you for your Admiral Sponsorship⚓

Shipwrecks of Port Aransas ⚓🌊Beneath the waves and along the shores of Port Aransas lie stories of shipwrecks, daring re...
10/12/2026

Shipwrecks of Port Aransas ⚓🌊

Beneath the waves and along the shores of Port Aransas lie stories of shipwrecks, daring rescues, and vessels that became part of our island’s history.

⚓ SS John Worthington: During World War II, this tanker was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Brazil in 1943. Despite extensive damage, she made it back to Galveston. Eventually deemed beyond repair, the vessel was abandoned in the Lydia Ann Channel near Port Aransas. Have you seen it under the water?

🚢 SS Mary: In 1876, this steamship ran aground while entering Aransas Pass in rough weather. Remarkably, everyone aboard survived. The dangerous incident helped highlight the need for better maritime rescue services along the Texas coast, contributing to the establishment of a Life-Saving Station on Mustang Island in 1878.

🛶 Lake Austin & the Lydia Ann: The Lake Austin, a wooden trading schooner built in Texas in 1881, wrecked on Mustang Island in 1903. Her salvaged lumber was put to use by local residents, including in the construction of the historic Brundrett house. More than a century later, Farley Boat Works and the Port Aransas Museum brought the story of this type of working vessel to life through the construction of the Lydia Ann, a replica inspired by the Lake Austin. See it for yourself now at Farley Boat Works!

Each of these stories offers a glimpse into the challenges of navigating the Gulf and the resourcefulness of the people who made their lives along this coast.

The sea has shaped Port Aransas in countless ways, and preserving these stories helps us understand the place we call home today.

💬 Which of these shipwreck stories surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Visit the Port Aransas Museum to discover more stories from our island’s maritime past and see artifacts for yourself!

Standing just across the water from Port Aransas, the Lydia Ann Lighthouse has been watching over the Coastal Bend for m...
09/23/2026

Standing just across the water from Port Aransas, the Lydia Ann Lighthouse has been watching over the Coastal Bend for more than 165 years.

Construction on the Aransas Pass Light Station began in 1855, and the lighthouse was first lit in 1857 to help guide ships through the Aransas Pass and serve as a recognizable landmark along the Texas coast. Its fourth-order Fresnel lens helped mariners find their way for nearly a century.

The lighthouse even survived the Civil War, when Confederate forces attempted to destroy it so Union forces could not use the light. It was repaired and relit after the war.

But the changing coastline eventually worked against the lighthouse. As Aransas Pass migrated south, the lighthouse became more than a mile from the entrance it was originally built to mark. The Coast Guard decommissioned it in 1952, ending nearly a century of service.

Today, the lighthouse remains one of the most recognizable pieces of Port Aransas-area history. Come by the museum to see a fourth order Fresnel lens that was in the lighthouse for many years!

💬 Have you ever seen the Lydia Ann Lighthouse up close? Tell us where you spotted it or share your favorite piece of Port A history!

Address

101 E Brundrett Street (At 408 N Alister St)
Port Aransas, TX
78373

Opening Hours

Thursday 9am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

(361) 749-3800

Website

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