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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 150th anniversary of the Bolivar Point |
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Lighthouse is being celebrated with an open house event on |
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February 19, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1872, the Bolivar Point Lighthouse was |
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commissioned by Congress to guide ships through Galveston Bay, |
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which was one of the busiest and largest ports in Texas; standing at |
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the western tip of the Bolivar Peninsula, the lighthouse was |
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equipped with a powerful Fresnel lens and painted with bold black |
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and white stripes; it was first lighted on November 19, 1872, and by |
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providing safe passage for maritime commerce, it substantially |
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impacted the growth of Galveston, Texas City, Houston, and various |
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other cities situated near the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway; and |
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WHEREAS, During the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the |
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deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the Bolivar Point |
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Lighthouse acted as a sanctuary for 125 people; while more than |
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6,000 individuals perished, the structure withstood the storms and |
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all who sought shelter within its walls survived; the lighthouse |
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once again served as a safe haven during a hurricane in 1915, when |
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61 people waded through rising waters to reach its door; and |
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WHEREAS, The Bolivar Point Lighthouse was retired in 1933 |
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after 61 years of faithful service, and it sat neglected until 1947, |
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when it was auctioned off by the government and acquired by the |
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Maxwell/Boyt families; although the lighthouse has suffered damage |
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over the years due to various hurricanes and the 1947 Texas City |
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explosion, it remains standing to this day; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2015, the Bolivar Point Lighthouse Foundation was |
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created in an ongoing effort to preserve and restore the |
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lighthouse; due to its severe state of deterioration, the Galveston |
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Historical Foundation placed it on its Heritage at Risk List with |
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critical priority in 2019; by restoring the lighthouse to its |
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former glory, the foundation aims to open it to visitors and save an |
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invaluable piece of Texas history; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past century and a half, the Bolivar Point |
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Lighthouse has served as a beacon of strength and hope, and it is a |
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pleasure to join in celebrating its long and storied history; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Bolivar |
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Point Lighthouse and extend to all those in attendance at the open |
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house event sincere best wishes for a memorable and meaningful |
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celebration. |
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Leo-Wilson |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 151 was adopted by the House on |
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February 14, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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