Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Downtown Corpus lies behind Shoreline Blvd, a wide seafront boulevard that was de-
signed by Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mt Rushmore.
to the north. The soaring US 181 Harbor Bridge spans the channel between the downtown
and beach areas. You can make the dizzying walk up and over the span; on the south side
start near Beldon St.
USS Lexington Museum
(
www.usslexington.com
; 2914 N Shoreline Blvd; adult/child $14/9; 9am-5pm, to 6pm Jun-Aug)
The second
sight you are likely to notice in Corpus (after the bay) is this 900ft-long
aircraft carrier
moored just north of the ship channel. The ship served in the Pacific during WWII and
was finally retired in 1991. High-tech exhibits give visitors a chance to experience a taste
of wartime, without actually dying in a kamikaze attack.
During the evening, the ship is eerily lit with blue lights that recall its WWII nickname,
'the Blue Ghost.'
HISTORIC SHIP
THE CURSED COLUMBUS FLEET
In 1992, the government of Spain built replicas of Columbus' ships, the
Niña,
the
Pinta
and the
Santa María,
to
commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' voyage to the New World. After sailing them around the At-
lantic, Spain agreed to lease them to the city of Corpus Christi for 50 years. Shortly after they arrived to huge fan-
fare in 1993, a rogue barge went out of control on the ship channel and rammed all three, causing huge damage.
The
Niña
stayed afloat (and can be seen today at the Lawrence St T-Head), while the
Pinta
and
Santa María
were moved to a concrete dry dock behind the Museum of Science and History, looking quite the worse for wear.
Of the latter two, the
Pinta
is still in decent shape.
After Spain made several offers to restore the boats met with hassles from Corpus Christi, it realized that no
good deed goes unpunished and washed its hands of the ships in 2006. Meanwhile wrangling over the ships' fu-
tures continues.
Texas State Aquarium
MAP
AQUARIUM
GOOGLE MAP
( 361-881-1200;
www.texasstateaquarium.org
; 2710 N Shoreline Blvd; adult/child $18/13; 9am-5pm, to 6pm
summer; )
Learn about marine life along the Gulf Coast at this vast, flashy attraction.
The main exhibits, on a circular course, include a huge tank replicating the environment
