A Site for the People

A Site for the People. . , Historic Markers and Memorials, The creation of what is now the Fannin Battleground State Historic Site began in 1913, when the Hanleys, owners of the land, deeded 10 acres to the state. The next year, a cement wall four feet high and eight inches thick was built around the site. Iron gates, formerly at the grounds of the Texas capitol, were installed at the entrance. An arch overhead declared that this was the "Fannin Battlefield." , In 1916, a distinctive 29-foot granite obelisk was installed. Two years later, Louise L. Parks sold 3.62 acres to the state, which would be used for a caretaker's residence. A windmill, now gone, and reservoir and water tank that still remain were eventually added to help maintain the luxuriant flowers and trees planted there. , Captions , Middle Left: A Connection to the Capitol , The iron gates here echo the iron fence at the Texas State Capitol in Austin today. , Lower Left: The Park Plan , In 1916, park designers had intended to draw attention to the granite obelisk by situating it in the middle of concentric concrete rings., Lower Right: Historic Event , This photograph of Governor Jim Ferguson's visit to the Fannin Battlefield on March 8, 1916 shows the original wall and gates. , Images: Goliad County Library, Markethouse Museum Collection; Texas Historical Commission; iStockPhoto