Site of the Town of Indianola

Indianola built its own railroad and lost it twice. Chartered on January 21, 1858, with $5 million in authorized capital, the Indianola Railroad graded fifteen miles to Clark Station and stacked its ties on the beach, but Northern money, nervous about war, would not finish it, and Henry Runge's 1860 trip to Germany came to nothing. In December 1862 Confederates burned some 750,000 board feet of ties. Charles Morgan later took control and laid rails onto his long wharf. After the 1886 storm the line was abandoned, and the last train, an excursion, left on June 18, 1887.

What the plaque says

Site of the Town of Indianola (1844-1886) First called by German immigrants Karlshaven, an important port of Texas. Cargoes of ships were hauled to and from points in Texas and Mexico by carts until 1860 when the San Antonio and Mexico Gulf Railroad and the Indianola Railroad were completed to Victoria. The town was partly destroyed with great loss of life by a hurricane, September 17, 1875. It was rebuilt but completely destroyed by another hurricane, August 20, 1886.

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• The Chihuahua Road — steps away
• Indianola Cemetery — 0.7 mi
• Sgt. William Henry Barnes — 0.8 mi
• Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle — 0.9 mi