The USS TEXAS and the SAM HOUSTON MUSEUM by Sandra Rogers

By:  Sandra Rogers, Collections Registrar

Recently, the newspapers have been reporting on the problems of keeping afloat the USS TEXAS, the battleship moored at the San Jacinto Battleground.  Commissioned on the 12^th of March 1914, the ship has a distinguished history…having served in both World Wars.  The ship is also noted for being the FIRST U.S. battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns, the FIRST to launch an aircraft, the FIRST to use range-keepers to control gunfire, the FIRST to become a permanent museum ship, and the FIRST battleship declared to be a U.S. National Historic Landmark.  However, the USS TEXAS I speak of, decommissioned in 1948, was NOT the first USS TEXAS.

The first USS TEXAS was constructed in the Norfolk Navy shipyard. She was the first U. S. battleship ever built.  The TEXAS was launched in 1892 and commissioned in 1895, shortly before her sister ship, the MAINE.  The demise of the MAINE in 1898 is well known to all students of American history, but the USS TEXAS also involved in the Battle of Santiago, is rarely mentioned.  The first USS TEXAS was known as a “hoodoo” ship because of her many accidents, partly due to her design.  However, the ship redeemed her reputation by her valiant actions in the Cuban battle.  After the Spanish-American War the ship was part of the Atlantic coast squadron, but in 1910 she relinquished her name to the new dreadnought TEXAS, now visited each year at San Jacinto by thousands of Texas school children. The first USS TEXAS was renamed the SAN MARCOS and became a Navy target ship.  She was sunk by the USS New Hampshire in 1911.

So, what does this have to do with the Sam Houston Memorial Museum?  Well, among the many interesting artifacts locked away in the museum vault are five artifacts relating to the first USS TEXAS. Three of the artifacts are photographs.  Two photographs of the USS TEXAS are dated “December 10, 1896”and “March 1900, Galveston.” The third photograph of Madge Houston Williams is inscribed “for Mama from Madge July 1^st 1892, Norfolk, VA.” 

Madge Houston Williams was the daughter of Margaret Lea (Maggie) Houston, Sam and Margaret’s third child.   Madge was one of five children born to Maggie and Weston Williams. In the photograph, Madge is pictured wearing a sailor collar with a star pattern.  This photograph was taken on the occasion of Madge’s trip to Norfolk to christen the first USS TEXAS.   

The other related artifacts are two beautiful ribbons (shown in photo) that were worn by Madge at the ship christening. One is of white satin decorated with embroidered U.S. flags, and the other is a grosgrain ribbon decorated with embroidered American eagles. 

Madge Houston Williams was picked to christen the USS Texas by voters in a Galveston Daily News contest.  Madge, accompanied by her mother, traveled by train to Norfolk, VA, for the special event.   In a 1948 interview, she remembered that it was raining that day, but she chose not to use an umbrella so that she would not block the view of the many midshipmen present. She also recalled that she had received many letters from Texans asking that she use water rather than wine to christen the ship. Madge stated that “although I am a Temperance girl, I am not a fanatic.” In front of 10,000 onlookers, the eighteen year old christened the new battleship with wine on the 28^th of June 1892.   Later that day when asked to cut a cake decorated with an image of the USS Texas, she declined.  “I’ll not divide Texas not even on a cake.”  Sam would have been proud.