| Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site Texas State Historic Site | |
| Map Relief: | yes |
| Location: | 6100 Dowling Rd., Port Arthur, Texas |
| Coordinates: | 29.7286°N -93.875°W |
| Beginning Label: | Designated |
| Beginning Date: | --> |
| Governing Body: | Texas Historical Commission |
Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic Site is located in Jefferson County, Texas, where the Sabine River enters the Gulf of Mexico. The site is the location of a significant Civil War battle.
In September 1863, members of the Davis Guard—led by Confederate Lt. Richard "Dick" Dowling—held off a Union attack at Sabine Pass, a key port for Confederate shipments of supplies. In a battle lasting less than an hour, Dowling and his men destroyed two gunboats, captured nearly 350 prisoners, and prevented Union forces from penetrating the Texas interior.[1] [2]
Today, the site is operated as a historic site by the Texas Historical Commission. Features include the 1936 statue honoring Dowling's feats, a monument dedicated to the Union casualties, outdoor educational exhibits, and a scale model of the Civil War-era fort and battle.[3]