1971 S/S Texaco-Oklahoma Memorial Sundial -- Port Arthur TX
N 29° 52.476 W 093° 55.784
15R E 410215 N 3305253
The Seamen's Memorial Equatorial Sundial in downtown Port Arthur TX was dedicated in honor of the sailors who died in the S/S Texaco-Oklahoma disaster of 1971.
Waymark Code: WMG5P2
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/16/2013
Views: 3
The sundial was erected by Sea Explorer Posts 700/701, and sponsored by the Port of Port Arthur Port Commission. A small plaque on the outer park wall holding the sundial reads as follows:
"SEAMAN'S MEMORIAL EQUATORIAL SUNDIAL
Erected 1973
In tribute to the men of the Texaco-Oklahoma and all who go down to the sea in ships thru the port of Port Arthur
May God bless them" [end]
The Seamen's Memorial Sundial stands on the outer edge of the Lamar State College-Port Arthur campus in a small memorial park very near downtown. The park is dominated by this beautiful, sculptural sundial, complete witn a date chart, complicated graph, and instructions to use the sundial to find the exact watch time.
This small park and wonderful sundial serves a memorial to the 31 men of the tanker S/S/Texaco-Oklahoma who died when their oil tanker broke up and sank off the coast of North Carolina in 1971. An annual memorial service for those lost at sea have been held here ever since.
Safety lessons learned and after-actions taken from the investigation of that disaster resulted in 200+ WWII-era ships being decommissioned, and new ship-safety measures being incorporated in the design of new vessels.
From a 30th anniversary of the tragedy story in the Orange (TX) Record newspaper: (visit link)
"Texaco Oklahoma a tragedy at sea remembered
At 3 a.m. on March 27, 1971, the U.S. flag vessel TEXACO OKLAHOMA, fully loaded with a cargo of black oil, broke up and sank about 120 miles NE of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina in heavy seas. The ship was en route from Port Arthur, TX to Boston, Massachusetts with 44 officers and crewmen on board, many from the southeast Texas area. After an exhaustive search only 13 survivors were found – 31 perished. The Gulf Coast community was understandably rocked by the event and several memorial services for the victims were held ashore and at sea.
The tragedy would have a lasting impact on Port Arthur and the nation at large. In 1976, a Memorial Sundial was erected in Port Arthur dedicated to the TEXACO OKLAHOMA and her crew – it is the site of an annual memorial service for all seamen lost at sea. Further, the sinking of the TEXACO OKLAHOMA and other similar incidents in the early 1970s necessitated the decommissioning of 200 WWII era vessels.
The Museum of the Gulf Coast will remember the tragedy of the TEXACO OKLAHOMA with a small temporary display on view in the Maritime exhibits section beginning May 4, 2011. Hosted in association with the Seafarers Center in Port Arthur, the display features photographs, documents, news articles, and objects from the Museum’s collection. The display will draw attention to 40th anniversary events hosted by the Seafarers Center which will include a symposium and memorial service on Friday, March 25, 2011. Projected speakers/guests will include survivors and family members of those who perished. The Museum’s exhibit will remain on view through International Seafarers Day, May 22, 2011.
The Museum of the Gulf Coast is owned and operated by the Port Arthur Historical Society in partnership with Lamar State College – Port Arthur and the City of Port Arthur. It is located at 700 Procter Street in downtown Port Arthur and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information about the Museum please visit www.museumofthegulfcoast.org or call 409.982.7000. The Seafarers Center is located at 401 Houston Avenue in Port Arthur. For more information about 40th Anniversary memorial events please contact the Apostleship of the Sea at 409.985.4545." [end]
Disaster Date: 03/27/1971
Date of dedication: 01/01/1973
Memorial Sponsors: Port of Port Arthur Port Commission & Explorer Scouts branches 700/701
Disaster Type: Technological
Relevant Website: [Web Link]
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
|
Visit Instructions:
A photo of the memorial from a different angle or view than what is already posted is requested. If a camera is not available, please give a detailed description so that we can get an idea of your visit. Please list anything that has changed since the waymark was created.