88 THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Winter 2018-19 TheCoastalBend.com THE PORT ARANSAS MUSEUM is a worthy testament to one of the most historically significant communities on the Texas Gulf Coast, which was estab- lished 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 Lighthouse 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). The museum is home to Port A and Mustang Island artifacts and over 12,000 historical photos, and documents. (361) 749-3800 • 101 E. Brundrett@N. Alister. St. • PortAransasMuseum.org HOBBS HOT ROD 2019 POKER RUN is hosted by Stingray’s Taphouse on Beach St. on Saturday Feb. 9th 1:30- 3:30 p.m., where dozens of hot rods and classic cars will assemble for a classic poker run competition. The partici- pants will hit five stops during the run, all to raise money for Driscoll Children’s Hospital, which was presented a check for $20,000 from last year’s event. 301 Beach St. BELT SANDER RACES in Texas are said to be founded right here in Port A, at the famous Gaff Bar. Now a seasonal tradition, the great island Belt Sander Races tournaments attract talented and semi-obsessed competi- tors from throughout South Texas...and beyond! Turn up at The Gaff every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month to be part of the fun! 323 Beach St.