History

New Land Added to San Jacinto Battleground to Preserve Texas History

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Over 23 acres are being added to the land surrounding the San Jacinto Monument, according to an announcement by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Bordering the Houston Ship Channel, the acquisition together with a donation from the San Jacinto Battleground Conservancy (SJBC) is just the latest in a number of enhancement and restoration projects on the grounds where the battle was fought in 1836.

The project is designed to conserve the historic property where, on April 21, 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto won our independence in the Texas Revolution. It also includes these tracts of land which were acquired in 2010 and 2014. Carter Smith, TPWD Executive Director, stated, “The addition of this critical tract of land, and its rich cultural and natural legacy, represents a great gift to Texans and the future of the San Jacinto Battleground. We are grateful for the work of SJBC in protecting the site and for ensuring that current and future generations of Texans can continue to connect with the outdoors and the history of our home ground.”

New Land Added to San Jacinto Battleground to Preserve Texas History

Photo: Facebook/Brian Hart

The late Jan DeVault, co-founder and former President of the SJBC, was credited with being instrumental in the process. They include a conservation easement coordinated with the Galveston Bay Foundation, as well as an in-kind donation from the SJBC, the latter of which is equal to more than $3.1 million. “Our acquisition and maintenance of the tracts have made possible TPWD’s plans to restore the area to its 1836 appearance,” current SJBC President Cecil Jones explained. “These new features will allow visitors to better experience and understand the battle, and the rare natural wildlife habitat on the Houston Ship Channel.” For more than 15 years, the TPWD has been making every effort possible to acquire all of the remaining lands on the San Jacinto Peninsula for these same purposes.

Its many uses, chief of which will be the provision of outdoor recreation opportunities on the site, including fishing, wildlife watching, hiking and biking, and outdoor education. Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks, stated, “This critical acquisition provides a one-of-a-kind experience for park visitors to retrace the footsteps of Texas history as they traverse this new property, that now provides a contiguous connection to a local county park. We are excited to preserve this significant piece of Texas and look forward to developing more outdoor recreation opportunities and conservation projects in the future.”

New Land Added to San Jacinto Battleground to Preserve Texas History

Photo: Facebook/Steve Ganus

Teeming with Texas history, this new acquisition formerly belonged to Arthur McCormick – awarded to him in 1824. McCormick was an individual of Irish descent said to have been one of the Old Three Hundred colonists, settlers who received land grants in the first colony established by Stephen F. Austin. It made up a part of the town of San Jacinto, which had been established following the historic battle of the same name. It housed businesses that grew from the development of steamboat traffic between Houston and Galveston. A road crossing the two tracts of land was established by 1836, connecting Harrisburg with what’s now known as the Lynchburg Ferry. This was critical at the time of the Runaway Scrape when Antonio López de Santa Anna’s conquests necessitated that Texans flee their homes.

Those interested in more details regarding the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site can visit the website at the link provided here. If you’re interested in the work of the SJBC or how you can support it, you can find more details on their web link available here.