Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church

Frederick Shepherd, who helped the Rev. Napoleon Harris establish an African Methodist Episcopal (A. M. E.) mission in nearby Sabine in 1902, founded this church at his Port Arthur home in 1903 with the Rev. Harris serving as pastor. The first sanctuary, built here in 1904 on property donated by the Port Arthur Townsite and Land Company, also housed the area's first public school for African Americans. As membership expanded successively larger sanctuaries were built. the name Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church was officially recorded in 1959. The church continues to serve the community.

Israel Chapel A. M. E. Church is a historical marker in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, dedicated in 1993. It is one of 109 historical markers documented in Jefferson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 137 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.8689, -93.9460 near Port Arthur. The nearest cataloged historic site is Rock Island Baptist Church (historical marker), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include The Kansas City Southern Railway in Port Arthur, US Post Office and Federal Building, and Port Arthur-Beaumont Interurban Railway.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5245010535. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.