Things to do / Travel Guide
There are over 300,000 registered historical sites in Texas, and most of them are in southeast Texas. You will find official state markers in the most remote places, even off remote highways. If you have the time to stop, do so. Of all the historic sites in Texas, the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto are the most-visited and most significant, as they mark the locations of the three main battle sites of the Texas Revolution.
The Alamo
The old mission in San Antonio was originally built in 1724 in the service of the Catholic Church. Years later, it was secularized and used as a military outpost, as well as the first hospital in Texas. The Alamo was a key spot for an army to control Texas and was the home to Spanish, Mexican, and Texan armies during its history.
The battle it is most famous for was the siege in 1836 by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. After Texan forces occupied the city of San Antonio, the Mexican army laid siege on the mission with several thousand troops. For 13 days, Colonel William Travis held out against the overwhelming foe until, on March 6th, 1836, Mexican forces stormed the Alamo. Everyone inside was killed, between 183 to 250 men.
Today the Alamo is considered hallowed ground and is a shrine to Texas liberty. When you walk inside you will pass a sign that says: “Gentleman on entering the Alamo will please remove their hats, and all visitors will speak in low tones, in recognition of the sacredness of this shrine.”
Goliad
Located at the junction between U.S. Highways 183 and 59, Goliad is a small southeast Texas community known for some rather significant historical events, the most important being the Goliad Massacre on March 27th, 1836. While the Alamo is more famous, it is the battle at the Presidio in Goliad that irreversibly changed the tide of opinion against Mexico. More men, 342 to be exact, died here than in the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto combined.
The Presidio continues to be operated by the Catholic church, and Roman Catholic Services are still held here. Interest in the area grew in the 1960s and it was completely restored to its 1836 appearance with public funding.
San Jacinto Memorial
The military memorial of the San Jacinto Memorial and Museum is the world's tallest war memorial. Operated as a state park to commemorate the victory of General Sam Houston, this museum, unlike the dour history of the Alamo and Goliad, marks the last battle of the war, and the subsequent independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico.
At San Jacinto, on April 21st, 1836, Houston launched a surprise attack against the Mexican army. Though outnumbered, out-equipped, and out-trained, the Texans managed to kill over 600 men in 18 minutes, bringing the Mexicans to surrender and account for the massacres in San Antonio and Goliad. Mexican General Santa Anna was captured, an only nine Texans were killed. Sam Houston himself was shot in the ankle, but survived to become the first president of the new Republic.
Historical Sites in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Padre Island and Southeastern Texas
Historical-Sites
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