March 2, 2020 Austin – Texas history provides a wellspring of valor, tragedy, and victory within its full-bodied narrative, but perhaps the greatest drama of all resides in the Texas Revolution.
At the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) State Historic Sites across the Texas Independence Trail Region, artifacts and interpretation help visitors understand the interwoven lives and events that form this rich historical tapestry. Experience this distinctive heritage at an upcoming Texas Revolution event at the following THC State Historic Sites.
On March 3, 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos, marking the birthplace of the Republic of Texas, as well as one of its early capitals. Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site in Washington will host its annual Texas Independence Day Celebration February 29–March 1, where visitors can enjoy live music, reenactors, vendors, and most importantly, history.
The decisive Battle of San Jacinto resulted in Texas’ independence from Mexico in 1836. The family-friendly, Texas-sized San Jacinto Day Festival on April 18 at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte will feature music, games, living history displays, and food. Reenactors attired in period dress will make the epic events of April 1836 come alive, and five distinct reenactments will focus on the dramatic events that led to one of the most significant and impactful military encounters in the history of North America.
Commemorating the location where, in 1823, Stephen F. Austin established a headquarters for his colony in Mexican Texas, San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site in Sealy shares the stories of early settlers in this region. Explore the site’s latest exhibition, "The Faces of Austin's Colony," a photographic exploration of the residents of Tejas before the Texas Revolution. The exhibit features portraits of over 75 former residents of Austin's Colony in images taken between the 1840s and the 1910s.
Casa Navarro State Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark, explores the life of one of early Texas’ most influential leaders, José Antonio Navarro. A rancher and merchant, Navarro was one of only two native-born Texans to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence. Join them in San Antonio for its 225th birthday celebration of Jose Antonio Navarro on February 29, featuring food and activities for guests.
Other Texas Revolution State Historic Sites include Fannin Battleground State Historic Site in Victoria, which memorializes the brave soldiers who fought and lost the Battle of Coleto Creek in 1836 during the Texas War for Independence.
Acton State Historic Site in Acton is the gravesite of Elizabeth Crockett, the second wife of celebrated folk hero Davy Crockett. It is marked by a 1911 monument to Crockett’s widow, who died in 1860.
The THC invites visitors to experience firsthand the rich legacy of our ancestors. Our 31 State Historic Sites honor the past and inspire an understanding of what it means to be Texan.
From American Indian sites to frontier forts and common, elegant homes of the leaders and statesmen who lived in them, these sites enrich people’s lives through history.
For more information about Texas Independence activities at the THC’s State Historic Sites, visit the Texas Historical Commission website www.thc.texas.gov
