Tour the historic homes at Heritage Park in downtown Corpus Christi. Staff photo by JoAnna Kopp
Take a drive along North Chapparral Street for a tour of historic Corpus Christi homes.
Your first stop should be the Cultural Center at 1581 N. Chaparral, where you can take a free tour of the Galván House, Courtyard and Lytton Memorial Rose Garden. You also will find information about each of the 12 homes that make up Heritage Park.
Then check out the Merriman Bobys House at 1521 Chaparral. It is the second oldest home in the city. Centennial House on Upper Broadway is the oldest home still in its original location. The Merriman Bobbys House was moved from its original location on the Bluff to Heritage Park in 1982. It was used as a hospital during the Civil War and the yellow fever epidemic of 1867.
Looking for ghosts? The reportedly haunted Sidbury House sports a Texas Historic Marker and is known as one of several haunted places in Corpus Christi. Many believe the ghost of a small child visits one of the bedrooms, knocking down objects and rearranging dolls.
Most of the homes were moved to Heritage Park from their original locations, including the Littles-Martin House, home of the first black residents of Corpus Christi. No one actually knows where this house was originally located. It has been moved several times.
Hattie Moore Littles and her husband moved to the area in 1915 and worked for John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy, one of the most prominent families in the area. The Kenedys gave the Littles the house, which was home to the family for more than 60 years.
