You see it there, just a simple plaque, mounted on a pole, set amongst the grass near the edge of the water. It looks unassuming. But look closer. This is no ordinary sign. This is the SS Selma Plaque, honoring a remarkable ship that once sailed these very waters.
The SS Selma, built in 1919, was a concrete oil tanker. During World War I, a lack of readily available steel compelled the US government to look for an alternative material. They found it in concrete. This was a bold move, even unheard of at the time. But the Selma, and other ships built of concrete, were indeed a success.
The Selma started her life as an oil tanker, traversing the Gulf of Mexico, transporting precious cargo across the tumultuous waters. But in 1920, she met with disaster. She ran aground on a jetty in Tampico, Mexico, suffering a massive crack in her side.
Despite attempts to repair the damage, the Selma was deemed beyond salvaging. Rather than let her succumb to the depths, they deliberately sunk her. A channel had to be dug specially for her, off Pelican Island, making her the only permanent wreck along the Houston Ship Channel.
Today, the Selma rests beneath the waves, a reminder of a simpler, more ingenious time. This plaque stands as a testament to the ingenuity of those who dared to push the boundaries of shipbuilding, to try something new, something seemingly impossible. It stands as a monument to the legacy of a ship that, while ultimately swallowed by the sea, continues to inspire awe and wonder.