Experience a historic slant on Christmas in Goliad this year at the Goliad State Park winter event. Visit Goliad’s “History in Lights” exhibit, which will run from 6 to 10 p.m. throughout the month of December. Lights and shadows will tell the story of this remarkable site as visitors walk the same path taken by Native Americans and Spanish Franciscans Priests so long ago.
Goliad State Park serves as a hub for visiting the Mission Espíritu Santo State Historic Site (located in the park), the Presidio La Bahía, the Ignacio Zaragoza Birthplace State Historic Site, Fannin Battleground State Historic Site, the Goliad Historic District, and Mission Rosario State Historic Site.
Photo: Facebook/goliadstatepark
Nearby points of historical interest include Fannin Battleground State Historic Site and the restored Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de La Bahía, The Presidio was established on what is now known as Matagorda Bay in 1721, and was relocated along with Mission Espíritu Santo to the Goliad area in 1749.
Presidio La Bahía is located .25 miles south of Goliad State Park on U.S. Highway 183 and 77A and is operated by the Catholic Diocese of Victoria. Another point of interest immediately south of Presidio La Bahía is the Fannin Memorial Monument. The monument marks the common burial site of Col. James Fannin and his troops (numbering approximately 350 men), who were killed by order of General Santa Ana during the Texas Revolution.
Visitors may also visit the Market House Museum, Goose Island State Park, Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, Mustang Island State Park, Lake Corpus Christi State Park, Choke Canyon State Park, and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, all within a two-hour drive.
Photo: Flickr/mlhradio
The city of Goliad offers a quaint town square featuring the recently renovated Goliad County Courthouse, which has been restored to its original 1894 appearance. Made famous by HGTV in the special Small Town Christmas in 2004, Goliad is a popular destination for Texans during the holiday season. To learn more about events happening at Goliad State Park, visit their website.
