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WE VISIT A MONUMENT TO MONUMENTAL MEN

The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site holds a significant responsibility to preserve the proud history of the State of Texas and the United States. The famous Battle of San Jacinto that brought TEXAS its independence was fought on this site. Because of the great importance of the Battle to the course of history, the Battleground is of state, national and international significance, a fact that is attested to by the site's National Historic Landmark status.

The primary purpose of the 1,200-acre site is to commemorate the Battle and to preserve the Battleground on which Texian troops under General Sam Houston achieved the independence of Texas by defeating a Mexican Army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on April 21, 1836.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site consists of the Battleground, Monument and Battleship TEXAS. It is located within minutes of downtown Houston and a short distance to the beaches of Galveston Island. Millions of visitors come to this area each year to enjoy the mild coastal climate and cultural and sports activities. Students and visitors alike are most fortunate to be able to experience history first hand through living history at the San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship TEXAS State Historic Sites.

Hey, there’s a ship over there.

Spiderboy checks out the cornerstone.

Bittygirl and dad take a turn.

Yes, we were there at the same time.

My God, it’s full of ~~stars~~ seashells.

The history of Texas, Part I.

Part II.

Part III.

Part IV.

Part V.

Part VI. If’n ya’ can read through the washed out part.

Part VII.

Part VIII.

Even the stars are bigger in Texas!

SINCE WE’RE ALREADY IN THE AREA

Since we were close, we made a side trip to Galveston. This was Bittygirl’s first trip to the gaint bathtub, aka ocean.

Daddy, I’m scared.

Spiderboy’s turn to be scared.

Bittygirl checks out the Sea Wall through dad’s shoulder.

Hey, this isn’t so bad afterall.

Seagulls have chowed down on this jellyfish already.

We check out a jetty.

I found this and thought it was appropriate.

The Top Ten Facts About The Construction of THE SAN JACINTO MONUMENT
by Johnny Stucco

San Jacinto Monument

Aerial View of the San Jacinto Monument
Photo Courtesy Captain Robert L. Sadler, Jr.

The San Jacinto Monument was designed by the prolific Houston architect Alfred Finn to commemorate the Centennial of the Battle of San Jacinto.

There is no particular order of importance to the entries - numbers are provided to save the reader the trouble of counting.

1. Despite what your uncle told you, no one was buried alive in wet concrete.
2. Only 35 of the 150 men hired had construction experience.
3. After completion, the mast and boom were removed by lowering them through the elevator shaft since the taper of the monument wouldn't allow lowering.
4. The shaft rose at the rate of 24 feet per week.
5. The working platform (which rose as the shaft was built) weighted 65 tons.
6. The star on the top weighs 220 tons.
7. The 3 dimensional star is 34 feet from point to point.
8. The sculpted stone panels immediately above the museum weigh 4 tons each.
9. The re-enforcement bars were 2 inches by 2 inches and 110 feet long.
10. The bars were easily bent, but were straightened by a railroad rail-straightening device that the contractor borrowed from a local railroad yard.

San jacinto Monument aerial view

Aerial View of the San Jacinto Monument
Photo Courtesy Captain Robert L. Sadler, Jr.

BONUS FACT: (Bring this up quietly when you visit Washington D.C.) The San Jacinto Monument IS taller than the Washington Monument.

BTW, for any of those who are interested, part VI of the panels on the San Jacinto Monument reads:

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.