Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site, a Texas Historical Commission property, is located where the Sabine River enters the Gulf of Mexico. The 58-acre site highlights the story of Confederate Lt. Richard “Dick” Dowling and his 46 men thwarting an attempted Union attack on Sabine Pass, a primary Texas port for Confederate shipments of supplies and vital to the war effort. In a battle lasting less than an hour, Dowling and his men destroyed two gunboats, resulting in significant casualties and the capture of nearly 350 prisoners. Thanks to their efforts, area ports escaped capture and Union forces never penetrated the Texas interior.

During World War II, the area was also the site of a U.S. Army coastal artillery battery, and four historic munitions magazines are still located on site. Other site features include the 1936 statue honoring Dowling’s feats, a monument dedicated to the Union casualties, an interpretive pavilion, a boat ramp, and picnicking and fishing areas.

Watch the following video to learn more about Texas's World War II naval legacy. The video was produced for inclusion in the World War II on the Texas Home Front mobile tour found in our Texas Time Travel mobile app. Learn more about the tour and the app on the World War II theme page at the following link: http://texastimetravel.com/travel-themes/main-world-war-ii