88 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Early Summer 2018 TheCoastalBend.com THE PORT ARANSAS MUSEUM is a worthy testament to one of the most his- torically significant communities on the Texas Gulf Coast, which was established as a cattle and sheep ranching settlement in the 1850s. During the same period, steamship service was commissioned between Sand Point, as the town was then called, and New Orleans, necessitating the construction of the Aransas Pass Light- house on St. Joseph’s Island. The Tarpon Inn opened its doors in the 1880s and became the center of local sportfishing activity. The Inn and Port A welcomed its most famous angler in 1937 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt caught tarpon from a Farley boat (pictured above), although it is said he actually stayed on the presidential yacht, and not at the Tarpon Inn. The museum is home to local artifacts and over 12,000 historical photos, telling the rich history of Port Aransas. (361) 749-3800 • N. Alister@Brundrett St. • portaransasmuseum.org PALMILLA BEACH GOLF CLUB is among the very few truly authentic Scottish- style links courses in the United States. The natural coastal terrain, which features an ocean beach and sand dunes, followed by native island vegetation on which the course is built, are required features of the links course, and are all found on Mustang Island. The Arnold Palmer Signature Design course was the golfing legend’s very first ocean-side design, and one in which Palmer placed special attention and oversight. The result is a challenging, championship experience the requires players to negotiate narrow, rolling fairways, imposing greens, and stacked sets of bunkers in the links tradition. Five sets of tees are offered for a vari- ety of skill levels. (361) 749-4653 • 265 Palm Island Dr. • palmillabeach.com