Museum of the Coastal Bend > Exhibits

Exhibition Dates
February 1—December 27, 2008

In 1519, Alonso de Pineda rendered the first map of the Texas Coastal Bend. From that time through the mid-1800’s, the Spanish explored the Coastal Bend territory.  Although unable to permanently claim the area, the Spanish left a legacy of history, culture and economy still evident today.

The Spanish Legacy of the Texas Coastal Bend provides an insight into the Coastal Bend of today through an examination of its most significant cultural influence — the Spanish explorers, the
military, the government and most importantly, those people who made the Coastal Bend their home.

Artifacts include uniforms and clothing; early spurs and bits; military weapons; personal artifacts representative of the Martin de León family; and a wealth of information conveyed in maps and
interpretive panels. In addition to the main exhibition, ancillary exhibits are planned throughout the year as an extension of the viewing experience.

The La Salle Odyssey exhibit tells the story of the first European settlement in Texas- the French Fort St. Louis, and the French ship La Belle’s archeological excavation in Matagorda Bay.

Fort St. Louis and Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle

The Fort St. Louis exhibition explores several subjects relating to the first French settlement in Victoria County and the first European settlement in Texas. From French explorer LaSalle’s early expeditions to life at Fort St. Louis and the archeological research on these subjects, each segment of this amazing story is told through informative scholarly written text panels, photographic images, and original artifacts found at the site.

The Cannons
The centerpiece exhibit in the Museum's gallery is the exhibit of seven of the eight cannons brought to Texas by French explorer La Salle. The eighth cannon is on exhibit at the State History Museum in Austin. The Fort St. Louis cannons are the focal point of the Museum gallery.

Presidio La Bahia scale model
The Spanish exploration and settlement of Texas in the early 1700s with the establishment of Presidio La Bahia in 1721 on the same site.

La Belle artifacts
Artifacts recovered from La Salle’s ship La Belle, which sank in nearby Matagorda Bay.