The Portal of Texas History

[Aerial view of the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Aerial view of the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-17
Creator: unknown
Description: An aerial view of the port area after the explosions. White smoke rises from the destroyed dock area. The Monsanto building, refinery facilities, storage tanks, and the grain elevator are visible. Many of the storage tanks have visible damage. Piers and docks show almost total destruction.
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
[Receiving a check for disaster relief after the 1947 Texas City Explosion]

[Receiving a check for disaster relief after the 1947 Texas City Explosion]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: Four men in suits stand in a row in front of a window. The two men on the right each hold a corner of a check, probably for disaster relief. The man second from the left is J. Curtis Trahan, mayor of Texas City; third from the left appears to be Carl Nessler, formerly mayor. On the right behind the men are horizontal or Venetian window blinds which have been partly drawn up and are in disorder and bent, possibly from blast damage.
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
[Aerial view of refinery structures near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Aerial view of refinery structures near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: An aerial view of refinery structures at the port after the explosions and fires. The Seatrain loading crane is visible in the lower left corner. White and black smoke still rise from burning areas.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Aerial view of refinery structures near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Aerial view of refinery structures near the port after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: An aerial view of the Monsanto building and the refinery facilities near the port after the explosions. Dark gray smoke streams from a burning structure near the tall refinery towers. The Monsanto building is very heavily damaged. The Seatrain loading crane is visible on the far left. On the reverse side of the photograph is written: "Site of explosion - looking west. Shows damage to Monsanto plant and port facilities."
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
[Across from the Seatrain loading crane after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Across from the Seatrain loading crane after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: A view of the dock area and shorelines across from the Seatrain loading crane after the 1947 Texas City Disaster. Clouds of white smoke cover the horizon, and smoke still rises from the debris. The Seatrain loading crane is visible on the far right. Directly across the water from it, unseen firefighters direct a stream of water toward burning debris near shore. The area in the foreground is covered with debris of all kinds including metal and wooden pieces, wire cabling, and an unknown product in fabric bags.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[Looking toward the port from the Post Office after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

[Looking toward the port from the Post Office after the 1947 Texas City Disaster]

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: The flag at the Post Office flies at half mast while in the background clouds of black and white smoke rise from fires down near the port. Taken from a level above the ground floor, looking down the wide street alongside the post office, one can see to the grain elevator and the water tower in the far background. Cars are parked along the street. Signs of the stores and businesses lining the street read as follows: "Agee's Drugs", "J. R. Smith Co.", "Cookies, Grocery & Market, CocaCola."
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
[The Wilson B. Keene after the explosions of the  1947 Texas City Disaster]

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

Date: 1947-04-16
Creator: unknown
Description: The Wilson B. Keene cargo ship lists heavily to the right in the port. Heavy explosion and fire damage is visible to the ship. On shore to the right rear of the ship is a large pile of rubble. The water near the ship is covered with floating wooden debris. A large piece of twisted metal, apparently from a ship's hull, sticks up near the shoreline on the bottom of the picture, and a power pole has fallen over into the water. Two men are looking at the power pole. Metal debris is visible on the shores on both the right and the left sides of the photograph.
Holding Partner: Moore Memorial Public Library
FIRST PREV 1 2 3 4 5 NEXT LAST