LOCAL
yon d e r
Elegance on the Bay Rockport’s Fulton Mansion has withstood hurricanes and the ravages of time to remain a coastal icon.
S
itting prominently along Aransas Bay in Rockport, the Fulton Mansion has stood tall and majestic since 1877. George W. Fulton, who created a ranching and meatpacking empire while shipping cattle tallow and hides to New Orleans during the 1870s, built the grand home. Starting in 1874, Fulton spent three years designing and constructing the mansion he called Oakhurst, named after the windswept oaks surrounding the property. The area around the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site has changed significantly over the past 150 years, but not the unique, French-inspired
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AUTHENTIC TEXAS
mansion with the slate-patterned mansard roof. Extremely impressive on the outside, the mansion continues its luxurious feel on the inside, from the amenities to the furnishings. Crystal chandeliers, imported from New York to London, light the home with timeless style. The gas lighting, indoor plumbing, and central air and heating systems were all unknown amenities to South Texas when the home was built. Artwork throughout the mansion reflects Fulton’s love of nature, and even the hardware is extensively engraved, right down to the door hinges. Plaster medallions adorn the ceiling
by Mike Carlisle
ROCKPORT
TROPICAL TRAIL REGION
