Its fossil collection includes a dinosaur egg. More than 14,000 shells are on display or lined up in drawers under the glass exhibit cases. The meandering Brazos River has been an important waterway in southeast Texas for centuries. Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca cruised its curving shores in the 16th century, and settlers of Stephen F. Austin's colony arrived at the mouth of the Brazos in 1821. Just a few decades ago, Freeport was a bustling port town.
Little evidence remains of that legacy.
Lake Jackson may be a city on the make, but Freeport, Quintana, Surfside Beach and the other communities exude a sense of years passed. Civic boosters have responded with beautification programs, economic incentives for business investment and public funding for resuscitation efforts. Gentrification hasn't started, but for visitors, that holds a certain charm. Many allow you to drive on the sand, and most people do. A blaring stereo is technically optional, but summer crusaders generally indulge.