Washington in Washington County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Little Town on the River
Photographed By James Hulse, February 25, 2023
1. Little Town on the River Marker
When delegates met here in 1836 to declare independence, Washington was a new and tiny town.
In 1836 Washington was a small community built around a ferry landing where the La Bahia Road crossed the Brazos River. It had good water from springs, and was built high on a bluff so it was unlikely to flood. Being so far up the river and before routine steamboat travel, goods in the stores were hard to come by.
Life changed for Washington's roughly 100 residents when Texas declared independence.
Revolution brought war. To escape the advancing Mexican Army after the fall of the Alamo, the Texas government left town, along with the rest of Washington's population. The end of the war didn't make things much easier. The economic problems following the Texas Revolution hit Washington hard. A visitor in 1842 said it was "a fine Place, but all the fine Stores and dwelling Houses [were] most all deserted.". The town that had started the Texas Republic wasn't even the capital, and the economy was suffering.
Captions
Upper Right: During the "Runaway Scrape" of 1836, Washington's residents fled their town, as the Mexican Army marched toward them.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Political Subdivisions
this page online
Location. 30° 19.574′ N, 96° 9.411′ W. Marker is in Washington, Texas, in Washington County. Marker can be reached from Park Road 12, half a mile east of Farm to Market Road 1155. The marker is located in the northwest section of the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park near Texas Independence Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23400 Park Road 12, Washington TX 77880, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Here a Nation was Born (a few steps from this marker); Birth of a Republic (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington-on-the-Brazos (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Washington's Boom Time (about 400 feet away); George Campbell Childress (about 700 feet away); Washington County (about 700 feet away); Rooted in History (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Heart of the Home (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.
Also see . . . Washington-on-the-Brazos, TX. Texas State Historical Association
Washington-on-the-Brazos, officially named Washington, in the upper northeastern corner(Submitted on February 28, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)of what is now Washington County, was a major political and commercial center in early Texas. The town was originally named Washington and began to be called Washington-on-the-Brazos or Old Washington only after the Civil War. Washington was one mile southwest of the junction of the Brazos and Navasota rivers, where the La Bahía Road crossed the Brazos River, seventy miles northwest of Houston and nearly 200 miles up the Brazos from the coast.Photographed By James Hulse, February 25, 20232. Little Town on the River Marker
Photographed By James Hulse, February 25, 2023
3. The view of the Little Town on the River Marker from the park
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 1, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
