Rockport, Texas: World's Largest Blue Crab

The crab is a cute photo op.

The Big Blue Crab was destroyed during Hurricane Harvey.

The Big Blue Crab is back. I built it of aluminum and fiberglass and tinted the fiberglass resin for the colors, which should slow the fading. It took nine months to complete, and six days just to mount Big Blue on his new pylons. The new crab is much bigger than the 1950s crab, 27 feet from the back fin to the front claw and 25 feet of legs from end to end.

Why is he a male crab with female crab claws? Because back in 1969, the city got a guy from the north to repaint Ol' Blue. He either didn't know that there was a difference between a male and female crab, or he gave it no thought at all and just copied the first crab he saw, which turned out to be a female crab. That's why I've kept with the tradition of keeping it a male underbelly with the female red claws, just like in the 1960s.

Rockport wants to bring back their giant crab! I found the following blurb on Rockport-Fulton's Chamber of Commerce site. For a picture of the famous crab and information on how you can help, go to www.rockport-fulton.org:

"If you were a resident or visitor in Rockport during the 1950's thru the late 1970's, it is quite likely that you remember the big blue crab. The approximately 18 foot wide, paper mache crab eventually deteriorated and was laid to rest.

Efforts have begun with fund raising and soon a more durable fiberglass replica will be constructed and erected."

Rockport, TX, was the home of the World's Largest Crab -- until local authorities discovered that its hollow innards were a favorite stash for local dope dealers. It has been removed.