Duncan Ferry

Historical marker location:

US 90A, Gonzales, Texas

( from Gonzales, take 90A, 2 miles NW. Marker reported missing Dec. 2017.)

Marker installed: 1971

Started about 1834 by Benj. Duncan (1793-1866), a Scotchman. According to tradition, Mrs. Almaron Dickinson stopped first at Duncan's home on her way to tell people of Gonzales of fall of the Alamo. She was one of few survivors of this bloody battle of Texas Revolution, in which many Gonzales men died.

Upon hearing news, General Sam Houston ordered retreat of the Texas army (camped in Gonzales) and on night of March 13, 1836, he had town and ferry burned to keep them from enemy hands.

Duncan later rebuilt ferry, which was operated until 1866.

Scottish immigrants immigration roads women women's history topics boats, ships, ferries, barges, and other marine vessels water topics

Texas has been a major oil-producing state for over a century. The first big oil discovery in Texas was the Spindletop field near Beaumont in 1901, which set off a massive oil boom that transformed the state's economy and made Texas one of the wealthiest states in the country.