San Jacinto Texas Historic District Kicks Off with Epic Art

Two years of economic development planning and fund raising culminates Monday afternoon with the unveiling of the district’s largest piece of artwork in Texas. This original work of art adorns an oil storage tank at Lyondell’s facility located at HWY 225 and Scarborough. The unveiling celebrates the formal inauguration of the newly created San Jacinto Texas Historic District (SJTHD) in east Harris County.

This $45-thousand mural named “Destiny” represents the first of (how many?) works depicting the history of the district in what will eventually become a museum without walls within the historic district. The 40 feet by 70 feet “canvas” has been digitally created using a combination of photography and graphic art.

Every aspect of this and future pieces will be historically accurate in terms of the moments in time they represent. Even the clothing worn by actors in the artwork is historically accurate down to the types of fabric and buttons used during the period.

“Our goal from the start had been to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our port region communities which are located in Harris County Precinct Two,” Lawler said, President and CEO of the Economic Alliance. “We conducted research and studies that indicated that our civic leaders believed that our region’s image could be enhanced. We responded by creating an innovative revitalization master plan. We called it Project Stars since our volunteers believed we should focus on our area’s unique Texas heritage as a theme and feature the significant history stories leading to our shining “star” – the San Jacinto battleground site. All this activity has been bundled for showcasing and marketing our region as a historic district.” Volunteers representing virtually all of the 15 cities in the newly formed district have worked for a three year period to formulate the historic district plans which will educate visitors about the area beginning with native Americans, includes the formation of a new Republic of Texas and continues today with one of the most vibrant and diverse economies known as the “Energy Capital of the World”.

Last fall, the efforts of this grass roots initiative received a huge boast to fast track implementation when Harris County Precinct Two Commissioner, Sylvia Garcia, held a celebration and encouraged hundreds of attendees to fund the endowment, resulting with well over a quarter million dollars. “Through close collaboration and economic development summits, we found ways for Project Stars and the historic district to align with all my master park plans and economic development strategies; providing another example of how partnering leads to synergies and leveraging of area resources. This will outlive all of us and I am honored that I was in a role to help bring this dream to reality. Along with others, I also salute Lyondell Houston Refinery for responding quickly to our community appeal to provide our first highly visible canvas.”

_________, CEO of Lyondell said, “The employees who have seen the art have overwhelmingly indicated a sense of pride that our Texas history story will be displayed where they work and that their company stepped up to the plate to participate early in the process. Their positive reaction has been contagious; this is when you know that as a company you are doing the right thing by participating.”

“What better way to celebrate where we have been and who we are today than to tell our story, to educate future generations, – with epic art as big as the state of Texas,” said Gina Manlove, who along with Wayne Oquin has led the Economic Alliance volunteer task force. “This is an exciting and bold new concept and plans are already underway for future canvasses on similar tanks located on major thoroughfares throughout our new San Jacinto Texas Historic District. This unveiling marks the day that we begin changing the way the outside world views our communities.”

A non-profit educational foundation has been created to help fund projects such as this one which will spur interest in history and education. Announcements will be made in the near future about the next artwork which will adorn tanks owned by VOPAK, TOTAL Petrochemicals and Shell Oil within the historic district.

“The potential for economic growth, educational opportunities and improving the image of east Harris County all come together beautifully within the framework of Project Stars,” Lawler said. “This artwork is just the beginning of a rebirth of our region and the creation of the historic district.”