Port Corpus Christi officially opened 90 years ago today Vintage photos show the rise of a small coastal town to major port city: 1910s-1940s

After hurricanes devastated Corpus Christi in 1916 and 1918, business leaders pushed for the development of a port. The site was settled on a fall hunting trip at King Ranch in 1921, and five years later, the city dedicated Port Corpus Christi.



Click through the gallery to see the evolution of Corpus Christi from a quiet seaside town to a developing industry hub. less After hurricanes devastated Corpus Christi in 1916 and 1918, business leaders pushed for the development of a port. The site was settled on a fall hunting trip at King Ranch in 1921, and five years later, the ... more Photo: File Photo: File Image 1 of / 86 Caption Close Port Corpus Christi officially opened 90 years ago today 1 / 86 Back to Gallery

Legendary rancher Richard King paved the destiny of Corpus Christi by hosting the mayor and a colonel in the Corps of Engineers with a hunt at King Ranch and a bottle of whiskey at the "Big House." There, they settled on the site for what would become Port Corpus Christi, officially opening on September 14, 1926.

Perched on a bluff, Corpus Christi owns the distinction as the highest point along the tide between Miami, Florida and Veracruz, Mexico.

It was this positioning, which mitigates destruction from hurricanes, plus the convenience of four railroad lines that sealed Corpus Christi's fate as an international port city.

After hurricanes devastated the area in 1916 and 1918, business leaders pushed for the development of a port. The site was settled on a fall hunting trip at King Ranch in 1921, and five years later, the city dedicated Port Corpus Christi.

RELATED: Vintage photos show King Ranch, through the years

The photographs in the above gallery are from the archives of the San Antonio Express-News as the paper covered the evolution of Corpus Christi from a quiet seaside town with tourist appeal to a developing industry hub.

In the early 1910s and 1920s, stately hotels opened their doors drawing an air of glamour to the quiet seaside community. The Plaza, the State Hotel, the Nueces Hotel, the Beach Hotel (renamed the Breakers) and the Princess Louise Hotel — all but one have since been demolished. The Princess Louise is now an apartment building, according to the Corpus Christi Caller Times.

In the 1930s, Corpus Christi developed its seawall, dubbing it their very own eighth wonder of the world.

RELATED: Vintage photographs from Port Aransas portray a budding Texas vacation spot

Before your next visit to the "Texas Riveria," now a mecca of budget resorts and industry, recall its earlier history when the city was just beginning to publicize itself as a "port of play and profit."

jmscott@mysa.com