Texas Almanac, 1954-1955 Page: 76
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76 TEXAS ALMANAC-1954-1955
orable Battle of the Alamo and other
events of the period of Revolution and
Republic. Near the Alamo, honoring the
heroes of the Alamo, stands the Cenotaph
a monument erected by the Centennial
Control Commission at a cost of $100,000.
Of gray marble and pink granite, it is
one .of the. most =impressive of the ceaten-,
nial structures. On its sides are inscribed
the names of all who fell at the Alamo.
In San Antonio is a large number of
structures connected with the momentous
events of the colonial and revolutionary
periods of Texas history. Mention is
made of the more important of these
under "Bexar" in the alphabetical list of
counties that follows. They lend to San
Antonio a distinctiveness of character
that is possessed by few if any other cities
-of the country.
San Jacinto Battlefield.
On San Jacinto Battlefield, beside the
Ship Channel below flouston, stands the
San Jacinto Monument, rising 570 feet 4
inches from grade to top, the "tallest
stone monument in the world." This shaft
commemorating the victory of the Texans
under Sam Houston over the Mexican
Army under Santa Anna (see p. 57) is of
reinforced concrete faced with Texas
golden buff limestone. The base of the
monument houses the San Jacinto Mu-
seum of H history. On the interior walls
are inscribed the names of all in the Tex-
as Army under Gen. Sam Houston at San
Jacinto Battle. The battlefield lying
about the monument is appropriately
marked. Erection of the monument and
landscaping of the battlefield was done
at a cost of $1,868,000 of state and federal
funds as part of the centennial program
of 1936. Here also is berthed the Battle-
ship Texas in a short canal off the Hous-
ton Ship Channel. (See Harris County
in list on following pages.)
Goliad.
At San Jacinto the charging Texans
cried, "Remember the Alamo, Remember
Goliad," and thus the three events--San
Jacinto, the Alamo and Goliad-have be-
come forever linked in the mind of the
patriotic Texan. At Goliad the state es-
tablished the Goliad State Park many
years ago. This was improved during
the Centennial year program, and, in ad-
dition, there was erected a Goliad Me-
morial Auditorium and stadium. Here,
too, is erected the great Goliad monument
and monolith of Texas granite, and here
are inscribed the names of those who
were killed at Goliad, March 27, 1836.
(See p. 56.)
Washington-on-the-Brazos.
The fourth of the outstanding points on
the history map of Texas is Washington-
on-the-Brazos in the eastern part of
Washington County. Washington State
Park on the highway between Brenham
and Navasota, is the site of the pioneer
town where Texas' independence was
declared March 2, 1836. Here the Cen-
tennial Control Commission of 1936 erect-
ed a statue of George Campbell Childress,
chairman of the committee of five who
drafted the Texas Declaration of Inde-pendence, and, accepted by most authori-
ties as the author, of the Texas Declara-
tiorn. A replica of the house in which the
independence session was held has been
erected here,.and the old Anson Jones
home was repaired and brought to this
site. An auditorium and amphitheater
were built here also by the commission.
(See also Washington County in- list on
.following pages.)
Other Landmarks of Texas History
In the foregoing paragraphs are men-
tioned the four outstanding landmarks of
Texas history, and monuments erected to,
them. Following are brief comments on
some of the other noteworthy landmarks
of Texas history, arranged alphabetically
according to county in which located:
ANDERSON: On State Highway No. 7, one mile
west of Elkhart, is the Pilgrim Predestinarian Reg-
ular Baptist Church, organized in Illinois n 1833
by Elder Daniel Parker. First meeting held in
Austin's Colony, Jan. 20, 1834. Log church built"
1839. Present church is fourth on the site. Con-
tinuous worship since 1834. Old graveyard of pio-
neers adjoins. First Christian Church established
at Palestine in 1846 by John F. Taylor, one of
oldest min Texas. Two miles west of Palestine on
U.S. Highway 79 is site of Fort Houston, which
later became part of the historic home of John H.
Reagan. It was a fort and stockade built about
1836 on the public square of HouSton, then in An-
derson County, by order of Gen. Sam Houston.
Town abandoned in 1846 when Palestine made
county seat of Anderson County. Fort was aban-
doned about 1841. No traces left, though stone
marker erected in 1936 commemorates its site.
ARANSAS: Home of George W. Fulton, who
fought min the Texan Army, later cattle baron. Old
town of Fulton named for him. First sizable
meat-packing industry mn Texas was operated at
this old port. Old port of Copano Landing was
located in this county. Site of Lamar, ten miles
north of Rockport. Established 1838, faded after
sacked by Umnion Troops, 1864. Few old homes
remain.
ARMSTRONG: Site of the old Goodnight Ranch
is marked. Established in 1876 by Charles Good-
night, first ranch min Texas Panhandle.
AUSTIN: At Industry is site of the first per-
manent German settlement min Texas, founded in
1831 by Friedrich Ernst, who died here in 1858.
Town laid out in 1838. In the southern part of
the county is San Felipe, which was the capital
of Austin s colony. Not much of the old town
of San Felipe de Austin remains in the present-day
village. In -San Felipe State Park is the monu-
ment to Stephen Fuller Austin, "Father of Texas.'
In San Felipe stood the home of Stephen F. Aus-
tin, owned by James F. Perry. Mrs. Perry was
Austin's sister. Part of the structure still stands.
BANDERA: Ten miles north of Bandera is
Bandera Pass, celebrated Indian pass known from
first Spanish settlement. Used by Texas Rangers
and by the United States Army. Bandera is a
quaint town, some of homes dating from old Polish
colony. Marvin Hunter Museum here. Fort Forilla
was located in Bandera County. No trace today.
BASTROP: Statue of Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron
de Bastrop located at Bastrop on the courthouse
grounds. Near here is a pine forest bequeathed
to the city by the Baron, and now the Bastrop
State Park. Known as the Lost Pines because of
isolation from main pine belt of East Texas.
BELL: Near Salado is the Davis Mill, built in
1864 by William A. Davis, first stone mill with
carding machine in the vicinity. A sawmill and
gin were added in 1866. In 1871, French burrs,
water wheel and boltin silk were brought from
Galveston by wagon. This mill made flour for
Central Texas homes and "no widow paid toll at
the Davis Mill." At Salado is old home of Elijah
Sterling Clack Robertson, built in 1856-60. He was
a Texas pioneer, soldier, lawyer and one of the
founders of Salado College. At Salado is also old
home of Wellborn. Barton, pioneer physician and
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Texas Almanac, 1954-1955, book, 1953; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117168/m1/78/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.