The Portal of Texas History

[Collapsed railroad tracks near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Collapsed railroad tracks near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Railroad freight cars loaded with wooden structures sit on raised railroad tracks leading to the docks. Part of the support structure for the tracks have collapsed underneath the loaded cars. The dock & pier structures closer to the water have been very heavily damaged.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Inspecting the damage after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Inspecting the damage after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Four men in suits, ties and hats walk down a road toward a truck near the grain elevator after the explosions. On the right are heaps of twisted metal including girders, pipes, corrugated metal and barrels. A power pole leans to the right. Several freight cars sit near the grain elevator. On the left side is a huge pile of debris including pipes. Some of the elevated pipelines are visibly damaged. In the distance on the left is a heavily-damaged multi-story building.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Damaged storage tanks near a water tower after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Damaged storage tanks near a water tower after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Damaged barbed wire fencing borders an area of round storage tanks and a control facility. Tanks have visible compression damage. In the foreground on the left, pieces of metal debris lie partially submerged in water standing on the left behind a berm. In the right rear corner stands one or perhaps two water towers.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Damaged cars and buildings near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Damaged cars and buildings near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Behind a large parking area full of damaged cars, burning structures give off heavy black and gray smoke. A three-story building has sustained heavy damage from the explosions, with all windows blown out and the top floor gone except for the metal framework. Farther to the right, another three-story building stands with much less visible damage. The parking lot of cars are directly across the road from this building. Many of the cars show missile or compression damage. Closer to the foreground, some cars stand in a pool of water. A small boat sits in the water at the far left. On the prow of the boat is written: "USAT SEATRAIN TEXAS BOAT NO. 1 680 CU.FT. 65 PERSONS". The hull of the boat also shows missile and compression damage. Metal debris is scattered in the water and near the cars.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Damaged railroad cars and storage tanks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Damaged railroad cars and storage tanks after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A line of damaged freight cars stands amid metal and wooden debris. The top of a crane is seen beyond the train cars behind a large pile of debris. In the far background is a storage tank farm, with visible compression damage on a number of the tanks. On the horizon, in the direction of the port, are heavy clouds of white and black smoke. In the foreground three military personnel stand looking at the damage. On the reverse side of the photograph is written: "From John P. Blazetic with 32nd Medical Battalion."
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Damage along the shoreline after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Damage along the shoreline after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A view of the destruction on the shoreline after the 1947 Texas City Disaster. Wooden and metal debris lines the area where the docks and warehouses were. Debris floats on the water in the port. White smoke rises from near the destroyed warehouses. At the far right, a large piece of metal framework from a warehouse sticks up toward the sky.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[A damaged building and automobile after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[A damaged building and automobile after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A man in uniform and another man look at a damaged white car parked at the curb at the intersection of two streets in the business district. The two-story building behind the parked car has been badly damaged on the two sides facing the corner of the intersection. Windows have been blown out of the building, and building rubble has fallen on the sidewalk on both sides. There are three other parked automobiles visible in the picture. Signs in front of a building (unseen except for a small portion of the roof) on the nearest (southeastern?) right side of the intersection read: "Texas City Loan Co., Jewelry Luggage Clothing" and "Loans, Liquor". There is also a short post used as a street sign with "Texas Ave" on the side of the post designating the street in which the photographer is standing, and "N(?) 3 St" on the side for the intersecting street.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[The Wilson B. Keene after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[The Wilson B. Keene after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: The ruined hull of the Wilson B. Keene lists heavily after the explosions and fires. Large piles of metal and other debris are visible along the shore and near the two-story, heavily damaged warehouse directly behind the ship.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Wrecked fore end of the Wilson B. Keene in Main Slip after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Wrecked fore end of the Wilson B. Keene in Main Slip after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: The Wilson B. Keene cargo ship lists heavily to the right (toward the dock) after the explosions. Very heavy damage to the ship is visible, and the right side of the ship is actually below the surface of the water. Wooden debris covers the surface of the water. Across the channel, large heaps of debris can be seen on the shore. On the far right hand side of the photograph, along the dock side of a damaged warehouse, near the damaged ship, approximately a dozen men are searching through the rubble and debris. The nearest man on the dock, wearing a suit or sports coat with no tie, is facing toward the photographer but is looking down around his feet, and is himself carrying what appears to be a camera.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[A ruined storage tank after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[A ruined storage tank after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A flat-bed truck, with its windshield blow out, sits alongside the remains of a storage tank that has been destroyed. A large pile of wooden and metal debris is heaped in front of the crushed walls of the tank. On the right, in the distance, two receding lines of power utility poles and other storage tanks can be seen. The top of the print has a handwritten note in ink reading "Texas City Disaster Photograph."
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
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