HomeMy WebLinkAbout022439 RES - 12/19/1995RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE TEXAS HISTORICAL
COMMISSION DESIGNATE THE CORPUS CHRISTI MUSEUM OF
SCIENCE AND HISTORY PERMANENT REPOSITORY FOR THE
ARTIFACTS RECOVERED FROM THE WRECK OF LA SALLE'S SHIP LA
BELLE.
WHEREAS, the State of Texas under the agency of the Texas Historical Commission has
located and begun the archeological recovery of the artifacts recovered from the wreck of Rene
Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle's ship La Belle; and
WHEREAS, the conservation and scientific study of this ship is beginning in the
archeological laboratory at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History; and
WHEREAS, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is already the chief
repository of marine artifacts recovered from State waters as repository for the San Esteban
Collection and the Platoro/Keenan/Purvis Collection; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Commerce has found Corpus Christi and the Coastal
Bend second only to San Antonio as the most popular tourist destination for Texans with over 5
million visitors annually; and
WHEREAS, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History has Shipwreck!, the award
winning exhibit on the 1554 Spanish shipwreck and Seeds of Change, the exhibit from the
Smithsonian Institution that tells the story of the impact New World exploration and trade had on
the world; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Fleet's full scale replicas of Columbus' ships of exploration,
located at the Museum are the only operational ships of exploration in the world with regular sails
in the Bay demonstrating the sailing characteristics of ships of exploration;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That after careful consideration of all pertinent factors such as: the need for
safe and scientifically controlled storage and high quality public display of such artifacts; and the
desire to locate the collection in the City of Corpus Christi, which is a major coastal tourist
destination for Texans and other national and international visitors, thus assuring a wide range and
a large volume of visitors to fulfill the natural interest of all people in seeing this very significant
collection, the City Council of the City of Corpus Christi do hereby respectfully request that the
Texas Historical Commission determine that the said artifacts should naturally and appropriately
be placed in permanent repository in the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History; and
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022339 ILMED
SECTION 2. That the City Council of the City of Corpus Christi hereby agrees to properly
maintain and display the artifacts recovered from the wreck of Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la
Salle's ship La Belle if the Texas Historical Commission agrees to place said artifacts in permanent
repository in the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the l 9 day of L fOt n%ttz.2 , 1995.
MAYOR, City if irpus Christi, Texas
ATTEST:
City Secretary, City o Corpus Christi,
Texas
The foregoing Resolution was approved prior to passage as to form and correctness this the
/4 day of 3P Cl/nt.cr , 1995.
By:
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James R. Bray
City Attorney
Alison Gallaway
Assistant City Attorney
Corpus Christi, Texas
Day of �JO-regy /, 194'S
The above resolution was passed by the following vote:
Mary Rhodes
Dr. Jack Best
Betty Black
Melody Cooper
Tony Heldenfels
Betty Jean Longoria
John Longoria
Edward A. Martin
Dr. David McNichols
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