San Jacinto Texas Historic District Artwork Unveiling

The second piece of original artwork commissioned by the San Jacinto Texas Historic District (SJTHD) commemorating events related to the Battle of San Jacinto will be unveiled on May 28, 2008.

This artwork, along with others in the area created by Native Sun Productions, will help transform the region and provide viewers a unique opportunity to link Texas’ celebrated heritage with the present.

VOPAK, a petrochemical storage facility in Deer Park, will adorn a chemical storage tank with Epic Art provided by SJTHD depicting activities leading to the Battle of San Jacinto. Vopak North America is a division of Royal Vopak, the world’s largest independent tank terminal operator, specializing in the storage and handling of liquid and gaseous chemical and oil products.

Today around 4:30 p.m. ropes will be pulled at 2759 Battleground Road unveiling a full-color representation of Texas history measuring 30-feet by 90-feet.

Called DISCOVERY, the artwork represents events on the morning prior to the epic Battle of San Jacinto at which time the Texians “discovered” they had reached the site (near the present-day VOPAK facility) critical to an approaching battle with the Mexican army.

This $49,000 mural represents the second work depicting the history of the district in what will eventually become a museum without walls within the San Jacinto Texas Historic District (SJTHD).

Every aspect of this and future pieces will be historically accurate in terms of the moments in time they represent. Even the clothing worn by actors in the artwork is historically accurate down to the types of fabric and buttons used during the period.

The unveiling is part of Project Stars™, an economic development plan which led to the creation of the District in east Harris County. The project began in 2004 as part of a series of economic development conferences and research conducted by the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region and Harris County Precinct Two Commissioner Sylvia R. Garcia.

Volunteers representing sixteen communities in the newly formed district in the Houston Port Region have worked to formulate the plan for Project Stars … a plan which highlights the history of the region. A history which begins with native Americans, includes the formation of a new Republic of Texas and continues today with one of the most vibrant and diverse economies in the world.

Plans are already underway for more canvasses on similar tanks and various other structures located on major thoroughfares throughout the SJTHD according to the President and CEO of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, Jan Lawler.

A non-profit educational 501c3 has been created to help fund projects such as this one which will spur interest in history, education and community development.

The Project Stars™ Mission Statement:

” Our Mission: Sharing our Heritage and our Vision Project Stars™ is a collaborative effort that brings together the port region communities of East Harris County (Precinct Two). This effort resulted in a Master Plan utilizing tools such as innovative urban landscaping, unique image enhancement techniques, and strategic economic development focusing on untapped historical resources. This Master Plan was created over a two year period and currently targets enhancements for 26 historic sites on major corridors.

Precinct Two represents nearly one million people living in the most populous county in Texas. Generally located between Houston’s I-45 on the west, Interstate 10 on the north, Galveston Bay on the east, and Clear Lake on the south, the precinct is larger than five states.

The Project Stars Master Plan emerged after conducting analysis, research, benchmarking and gathering community feedback over a two year period. Among the plan’s first goals was the creation of the San Jacinto Historic District. Mission accomplished: it is now the newest and the 5th largest historic district in the state of Texas.

The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region shepherded a volunteer task force of approximately 50 leaders and numerous agencies; and the number continues to grow. Our leaders have identified quality of life issues that capture the attention and the imagination. Historic sites were rediscovered as amenities unique to the area. These “stars”- as they became known in the Master Plan – do not exist anywhere else on the planet.

Implementation of our 2006 goals – with the help of many stakeholders – including economic research, the submission of several grant applications to the Texas Department of Transportation, and the planting of more than 4,000 trees is just the tip of the iceberg. Or as we say…the tip of the Stars!