Surfside Beach in Brazoria County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Historic Site of the Republic of Texas
Old Velasco
Photographed by Chris Kneupper, April 2, 2025
1. Historic Site of the Republic of Texas (Old Velasco) Marker
Stephen F. Austin landed back in Texas at the mouth of the Brazos River on 1-Sep-1835 after two years in Mexico (most of it in prison), sailing right into a sea battle between Texians and a Mexican gunboat, now termed the San Felipe Incident - the first shot of the Texas Revolution. Eight momentous months later just after the Battle of San Jacinto, the new government of the Republic of Texas convened at Velasco, negotiating with the captured Santa Anna, to create the public and private Treaties of Velasco and gain the independence of Texas. Thus, in a way, it can be said the Texas Revolution started and ended within yards of each other at Old Velasco.
Erected 2025 by Old Fort Velasco Historical Association, and Daughters of the Republic of Texas (Cradle of Texas chapter).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Texas Independence. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1835.
Location. 28° 56.515′ N, 95° 18.009′ W. Marker is in Surfside Beach, Texas, in Brazoria County. It is at the intersection of Parkview Road and Monument Ave. when traveling north on Parkview Road. This marker is located in association with the Battle of Velasco Memorial; being just southwest of that Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Parkview Road, Freeport TX 77541, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
More about this marker. The marker consists of pedestal made of antique brick and white mortar, to which is attached two black granite slabs - one a circular facsimile of the DRT "Historic Site of the Republic of Texas" medallion (front side) and a square slab etched with the words used in the application for this designation (top side). Application was made by the Cradle of Texas Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas for this medallion offered by their parent organization, which was approved during the year 2024. In honor of this award, the Old Fort Velasco Historical Association worked with the DRT chapter to incorporate the brick pedestal into renovations for the Battle of Velasco Memorial done in the period of
Photographed by Chris Kneupper, April 2, 2025
2. Close-up of etched text on black granite slab on top side
Regarding Historic Site of the Republic of Texas. No less an authority than the Texas State Library and Archives agrees that the San Felipe Incident was the opening shot of the Texas Revolution, as indicated on their web page of the subject (please see related links in "Also see ..." section).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. The San Felipe Incident - Opening Shot of the Texas Revolution. This web page contains additional information and images associated with the San Felipe, a Baltimore clipper-type schooner owned by the trading firm of McKinney & Williams of Quintana. (Submitted on April 3, 2025, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas.)
2. The San Felipe Incident (1835). Wikipedia page (Submitted on April 3, 2025, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas.)
3. The Treaties of Velasco. Web page by Texas State Library and Archives, where originals are kept.
On May 14, Santa Anna signed two peace treaties with interim Texas president David G. Burnet. The public treaty consisted of ten articles; a second, secret treaty consisted of six additional articles. The secret agreement was to be carried out when the public treaty had been fulfilled.
Photographed by Chris Kneupper, April 4, 2025
3. Historic Site of the Republic of Texas Marker - on southwest side of Battle of Velasco Memorial
Photographed by Chris Kneupper, April 4, 2025
4. Designated Marker is on far side of Battle of Velasco Memorial
LNG tanker in background is entering the old mouth of the Brazos River, now the entrance to Port Freeport.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2025, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. This page has been viewed 355 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on April 13, 2025, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on April 2, 2025, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. 2. submitted on April 3, 2025, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on April 4, 2025, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
