Presidio La Bahía

Presidio La Bahía. One of the most fought-over sites in Texas. , The presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto was originally established near Matagorda Bay (La Bahía del Espíritu Santo) in 1721 to prevent future French landings in the area and to protect the mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga. It was relocated twice before finally moving here to the San Antonio River in 1749. This location provided protection for missions Espíritu Santo and Rosario and became a center of civil settlement on travel routes from the Gulf coast to interior Texas., The presidio was one of most fought-over sites in Texas. Every attempt to change the order of government in colonial Texas involved the capture of the fort. In 1812, it was the site of the longest siege in Texas military history. Nine years later, it was the target of an American force attempting to conquer Texas for the United States. The presidio chapel was the site of the signing of the first Texas declaration of independence in 1835. And during the Texas Revolution in 1836, it served briefly as the headquarters of the Texan forces under Fannin and then as their temporary prison after their defeat at the battle of Coleto., Captions , Upper Right: Presidio La Bahía , In the mid-1960s, the O'Conner Foundation restored the presidio to its 1836 appearance. , Middle Right: Historic Reenactors , Annual reenactments bring life to the historic presidio setting. , Lower Right: Presidio Chapel , Our Lady of Loreto Chapel, built in 1779, is still used for religious services. , Timeline , 1400 , 1400s Karankawas and Coahuiltecans Occupying Gulf Coastal Plain , 1492 Christopher Columbus lands in the New World , 1500 , 1519 Spanish map Texas coastline , 1521 Cortez conquers Mexico , 1528 Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked on Galveston Island, 1600 , 1607 English establish Jamestown colony in Virginia , 1616 Dutch record first European landing in Australia , 1685 La Salle establishes French settlement in present Victoria County , 1700 , 1722 Presidio La Bahía and Mission Espíritu Santo established on French site , 1724 Mission moves to Tonkawa Bank site , 1726 Mission moves to Mission Valley site , 1749 Presidio La Bahía and Mission Espíritu Santo moved to San Antonio River , 1754 Mission Rosario established , 1775 to 1783 The American Revolution , 1779 to 1782 La Bahía cattle drives aid American Revolution , 1789 to 1793 French Revolution , 1800 , 1803 Louisiana Purchase , 1812 to 1821 Invading forces capture Presidio La Bahia , 1823 Austin's first Texas colony , 1829 La Bahía renamed Goliad Ignacio Zaragoza born near the presidio , 1831 Goliad missions released to local clergy , 1835 Goliad Declaration of Independence signed , 1836 Texans defeated at Coleto Creek and executed at Goliad , 1836 Texas wins independence from Mexico , 1836 Goliad County created , 1845 Texas becomes the 28th state , 1861 to 1865 American Civil War , 1862 Cinco de Mayo battle at Puebla, Mexico , 1894 Present Goliad County courthouse built , 1900 , 1901 Spindletop oil discovery , 1902 Goliad tornado , 1914 to 1918 World War I , 1929 The New York Stock Market crashes , 1929 Oil found in Goliad County , 1930s CCC reconstructs Mission Espíritu Santo , 1939 to 1945 World War II , 1949 Mission Espíritu Santo site becomes a state park , 1950 to 1953 Korean War , 1965 to 1973 Vietnam War , 1967 Presidio La Bahia reconstructed , 1974 Zaragoza Birthplace reconstructed , 1989 Berlin Wall dismantled , 1999 Goliad celebrates 250th anniversary , 2000