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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | La Porte in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central) |
San Jacinto Monument
San Jacinto Battlefield
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 1. First of the eight paragraphs about the birth of Texas on the monument | | |
Inscription. The early policies of Mexico toward her Texas colonists had been extremely liberal. Large grants of land were made to them, and no taxes or duties imposed. The relationship between the Anglo-Americans and Mexicans was cordial. But, following a series of revolutions begun in 1829, unscrupulous rulers successively seized power in Mexico. Their unjust acts and despotic decrees led to the revolution in Texas.
In June, 1832, the colonists forced the Mexican authorities at Anahuac to release Wm. B. Travis and others from unjust imprisonment. The Battle of Velasco, June 26, and the Battle of Nacogdoches, August 2, followed; in both the Texans were victorious. Stephen Fuller Austin, "Father of Texas," was arrested January 3, 1834, and held in Mexico without trial until July, 1835. The Texans formed an army, and on November 12, 1835, established a provisional government.
The first shot of the Revolution of 1835-36 was fired by the Texans at Gonzales, October 2, 1835, in resistance to a demand by Mexican soldiers for a small cannon held by the colonists. The Mexican garrison at Goliad fell October 9; the Battle of Concepcion was won by the Texans, October 28. San Antonio was captured December 10, 1835 after five days of fighting in which the indomitable Benjamin R. Milam died a hero, and the Mexican Army evacuated Texas.
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 2. Engraved stone at base of column | | |
Texas declared her independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos March 2. For nearly two months her armies met disaster and defeat: Dr. James Grant's men were killed on the Aguadulce March 2; William Barret Travis and his men sacrificed their lives at the Alamo, March 6; William Ward was defeated at Refugio, March 14; Amos B. King's men were executed near Refugio, March 16; and James Walker Fannin and his army were put to death near Goliad March 27, 1836.
On this field on April 21, 1836 the Army of Texas commanded by General Sam Houston, and accompanied by the Secretary of War, Thomas J. Rusk, attacked the larger invading army of Mexicans under General Santa Anna. The battle line from left to right was formed by Sidney Sherman's regiment, Edward Burleson's regiment, the artillery commanded by George W. Hockley, Henry Millard's infantry and the cavalry under Mirabeau B. Lamar. Sam Houston led the infantry charge.
With the battle cry, "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!" the Texans charged. The enemy taken by surprise, rallied for a few minutes then fled in disorder. The Texans had asked no quarter and gave none. The slaughter was appalling, victory complete, and Texas free! On the following day General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna, self-styled "Napoleon of the West," received from a generous foe the mercy he had denied Travis at the Alamo and Fannin at Goliad.
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 3. Works Progress Administration Plaque on Monument Steps | | The monument was constructed between 1938 and 1939. | | |
Citizens of Texas and immigrant soldiers in the Army of Texas at San Jacinto were natives of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal and Scotland.
Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican-American War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American Nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty.
Erected 1939 by State of Texas.
Marker series. This marker is included in the National Historic Landmarks marker series.
Location. 29° 44.994′ N, 95° 4.848′ W. Marker is in La Porte, Texas, in Harris County. Marker is on One Monument Circle. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: La Porte TX 77571, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. | | | | 
By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 4. View of monument approaching from access road | | |
At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. De Zavala Plaza (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Twin Sisters (approx. 0.6 miles away); San Jacinto Battleground Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Site of Surrender of Santa Anna (approx. 0.7 miles away); First Marine Division (approx. 0.7 miles away); U.S.S. Texas (approx. 0.7 miles away); Lynchburg Town Ferry (approx. 1.1 miles away); Will You Come to the Bower, Battle of San Jacinto (approx. 1.4 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in La Porte.
Regarding San Jacinto Monument. The monument is a 570 foot high column dedicated to the Texas War for Independence from Mexico. It is the world's tallest masonry tower (taller than the Washington Monument) and is constructed of Texas Limestone. At the top, there is a 34-foot Lone Star, an example of Art Deco architecture, certainly the largest in the United States.
Also see . . .
1. Story of the San Jacinto Monument. "In future time, then may the pilgrim's eye see here an obelisk point toward the sky...."— Anonymous poet (Submitted on March 28, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Wikipedia San Jacinto Monument Entry. (Submitted on March 28, 2008, by R. C. of Shrewsbury, New Jersey.)
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 5. Reflection pond seen from the observation deck | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 6. View of the monument from the battlefield | | Over the last few years, the park decided to stop cutting the grass and has returned the grounds to what the land would have looked like during the battle. | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 7. Access road seen from the observation deck | | Oil storage fields can be seen in the background. | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 8. Battleship Texas seen from the observation deck | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 9. View of Houston Ship Channel from observation deck | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 10. Lighting inside the monument is dectorated with the Lone Star of Texas | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 11. Visitor inside observation deck | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 12. The monument contains a museum with a large quantity of original artwork and static displays | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 13. Visitor parking, reflection pond and two of the six flags that have flown over Texas. | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 14. Texas Limestone steps leading up to the monument plaza. Battleship Texas is in background. | | |
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By R. C., August 23, 2007 | |
| | | 15. Monument viewed from Lynchburg Ferry. | | The monument is accessed by a 10-minute ferry ride when traveling to the monument from Houston. | | |
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By Richard E. Miller, August 15, 2010 | |
| | | 16. San Jacinto Battlefield has been named a Registered National Historical Landmark | Under provisions of the Historic Sites Act of 1935, this site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States.
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1962 | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on March 28, 2008, by R. C. of Shrewsbury, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 5,379 times since then. This page was the Marker of the Week April 21, 2013. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. submitted on March 28, 2008, by R. C. of Shrewsbury, New Jersey. 16. submitted on October 7, 2010, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
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