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Pelican Island (Texas)

Coordinates: 29°19′55″N 94°48′22″W / 29.332°N 94.806°W / 29.332; -94.806
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Raskuly (talk | contribs) at 17:38, 15 May 2024 (Noted partial bridge collapse). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Pelican Island
Pelican Island is located in Texas
Pelican Island
Pelican Island
Geography
LocationGalveston Bay
Coordinates29°19′55″N 94°48′22″W / 29.332°N 94.806°W / 29.332; -94.806
Area6.4 sq mi (17 km2)
Length2.85 mi (4.59 km)
Width2.67 mi (4.3 km)
Highest elevation20 ft (6 m)
Administration
United States
StateTexas
CountyGalveston County
Largest settlementPart of the City of Galveston (pop. 57,523)

Pelican Island is an island located in Galveston County, Texas. It is part of the city of Galveston and is linked to Galveston Island by the Pelican Island causeway. The island is home to the Texas A&M University at Galveston as well as two museum ships—the destroyer escort USS Stewart (DE-238) and the submarine USS Cavalla (SS-244)—and Seawolf Park. Seawolf Parkway is the only street that runs across the island.

In 1965, Galveston businessman George Mitchell purchased a large parcel of land on Pelican Island and donated some of it for the permanent home of Texas A&M University at Galveston. The Intracoastal Waterway borders it to the north, separating Pelican Island from another island.[1]

On May 15, 2024, a barge collided with the bridge at approximately 9:30 CDT (2:30 GMT), causing a portion of the bridge to collapse as well as causing an oil spill. The bridge was closed as crews worked to clean up the oil spill and remove the barge.[2]

Panoramic view of the western portion of Pelican Island, including the campus of Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Galveston Ship Channel.
The island end of Galveston's Pelican Island Causeway taken from an abandoned railroad bridge running beside the causeway

References

  1. ^ "Pelican Island". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  2. ^ "Barge hits a bridge in Galveston, Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill". Associated Press. 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-05-15.