April 8 - Texas History

Speaker 1: This is today in Texas history.

Speaker 2: On this day, April eighth, in nineteen sixty eight, a

crowd of nearly ten thousand watched a Lady Bird Johnson,

wife of President Lyndon Johnson, dedicated Podrey Island National Seashore.

It is the longest seashore in the National Park System

and encompasses a portion of the largest Barrier Beach in

the United States. The history of the park was long

and contentious. Efforts to establish a state park on Podrey

Island began in nineteen thirty six, but proved unsuccessful due

to a struggle between the public and private interest over

ownership of the land, and nineteen fifty eight, Texas Senator

Ralph Yarborough introduced a bill to establish a national park

on the island, and the proposal was finally signed into

law in nineteen sixty two. The dedication of the park

followed five years of condemnation proceedings. To day, the park

is a popular tourist destination, with attractions including a wide

sandy beach for swimming and fishing, a plethora of shore

birds and migratory water from and a variety of legends

involving pirates and hidden treasure but you didn't

Speaker 1: Know that was to day in Texas history.