Marker Inscription
A mexican village developed on this point, settled by mexican ranchers in the 1700's. The village was abandoned prior to the U.S. Declaration of war with Mexico in 1846. U.S. forces led by general Zachary Taylor occupied the point on March 24, 1846. Taylor erected a depot here to receive supplies from New Orleans. The six-sided fort, named for President Polk, consisted of 4 sides of earthen embankments and 2 sides open to the shoreline. The fort was abandoned in 1850 but the settlement it attracted eventually developed into Port Isabel. Remnants of the fort were visible until the 1920s. (1995)
About this site
Site of Fort Polk is a historical marker in Port Isabel, Cameron County, dedicated in 1995. It is one of 116 historical markers documented in Cameron County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 194 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 26.0775, -97.2077 near Port Isabel. The nearest cataloged historic site is Port Isabel (Old Point Isabel) (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Point Isabel Lighthouse, Old, Point Isabel Lighthouse, and Point Isabel, C.S.A..
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5061004796. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
