Chapel history

Talk on landmark set Tuesday

The Chapel in the Dunes is the topic at the next in the Winter Lecture Series presented by the Port Aransas preservation and Historical Association on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Carter Brown, grandson of Aline Carter will speak beginning at 7 p.m. Above left, visitors to the chapel walk down the steps that lead to the chapel, which sits on the sand dunes off 11th Street. Above right, Carter stands in front of the chapel circa 1938. South Jetty file photo

The Chapel in the Dunes is the topic at the next in the Winter Lecture Series presented by the Port Aransas preservation and Historical Association on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Carter Brown, grandson of Aline Carter will speak beginning at 7 p.m. Above left, visitors to the chapel walk down the steps that lead to the chapel, which sits on the sand dunes off 11th Street. Above right, Carter stands in front of the chapel circa 1938. South Jetty file photo

Folks are invited to learn about the history of the iconic Port Aransas landmark, the Chapel on the Dunes, from Carter Brown on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The next talk in the Port Aransas Historical and Preservation Association’s Winter Lecture Series will be held at Pioneer RV Beach Resort, 120 Gulfwind Drive.

A fellowship time will begin at 6:30 p.m. with wine and cheese, and the lecture will begin at 7 p.m.

Brown is the grandson of Aline B. Carter (1892-1972), who was best known for her love of poetry and her dedication to promoting poetry in Texas.

She was named the eighth poet-laureate of Texas, serving from 1947 to 1949.

The Chapel on the Dunes is the oldest consecrated church on Mustang Island and one of the Eight Wonders of Port Aransas.

Built in the 1930s, the chapel sits on sand dunes 26 feet above sea level.

Permission was granted to the Port Aransas Museum to conduct tours of the chapel by Aubrey Carter and the late Frank and David Carter. Frank and David were the sons of Aline Carter. Frank died on 2018, at 99 years of age, and David died in 2013.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

The tours are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

The museum provided the following information about Aline Carter’s life.

“As a poet, artist, astronomy educator, musician and humanitarian, she was a unique woman of her day.

“Her home in San Antonio and property in Port Aransas came to reflect these interests. In her San Antonio home, Aline converted the library into a small chapel. An observatory was constructed on the rooftop along with a four-inch refractor telescope.

“In Port Aransas, Aline had a small chapel constructed upon the top of a sand dune.

“In each of these projects Aline commissioned her friend and noted artisan Ethel Wilson Harris to make her vision a reality.”

PAPHA offers the Winter Lecture Series each year from January through February, with topics covering the history of Port Aransas.

All lectures will be held at Pioneer RV Beach Resort in the meeting room.

The next lecture in the series is set for Monday, Jan. 27, when Jim Moloney will talk about the 1919 storm and early postcards of Port Aransas.

PAPHA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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