Sailor from the Belle Shipwreck
historical marker
In Austin, Travis County, a historical marker erected in 2004 commemorates the 'Sailor from the Belle Shipwreck.' This marker recognizes a 17th-century French sailor. His remains were discovered in 1996 during the excavation of the ship La Belle. La Belle was one of four ships in French explorer Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle's 1684 expedition. The expedition aimed to establish a French colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The ship wrecked in Matagorda Bay in 1686, contributing to the failure of La Salle's Texas colony. Archaeologists found the sailor's skeleton in the ship's bow, near a pewter cup inscribed 'C. Barange.' The exact cause of his death is not known. The discovery of La Belle and its contents is considered a significant archaeological find in North America. It offers insight into 17th-century French colonial efforts in Texas. The sailor's remains were interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin in 2004. The ship's hull and artifacts are now exhibited at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. This marker acknowledges a direct human link to a pivotal moment in early Texas history.