Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
When is the Museum open?Expand
The San Jacinto Museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. See the Visit Us page for a listing of open days and entrance fees to various attractions.
When can I see Texas Forever!!, and how long does it last?Expand
Texas Forever!! is shown on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. and lasts 35 minutes. The last show begins at 5:00 p.m. Tickets should be purchased at least fifteen minutes in advance. See the Visit Us page for a complete list of entrance fees.
How big is the reflection pool?Expand
The reflection pool is 1,777 feet long, 219 feet wide, and 3 to 4 feet deep.
Where is the Battleship TEXAS located?Expand
The battleship TEXAS is undergoing repairs at Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations’ Galveston Shipyard. For more information, see the Battleship Texas Foundation.
Where is the tree that Sam Houston sat under?Expand
Due to erosion and the widening of the Ship Channel, the oak tree under which the wounded Sam Houston sat when the captured General Santa Anna was brought before him after the Battle of San Jacinto no longer exists.
Are there picnic grounds with tables and barbecue pits?Expand
There are a few picnic tables scattered throughout the site. See the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site for more information about site facilities.
Is camping allowed at the site?Expand
No, but the hiking is terrific and there are many hotels nearby.
Are pets allowed at the site and in the museum?Expand
Pets are allowed on the grounds if they are on a leash. Sorry, no pets in the museum. Contact Texas Historic Commission for more information.
Does Metro offer bus service to the Monument?Expand
No. Public transportation does not run to the monument.
Can you tell me if my historic artifact is real, and what it is worth?Expand
The best person to judge the authenticity and value of a historic artifact is an expert, and staff at the museum are not able to provide values. Contact an appraiser to help value your family treasure.
American Society of Appraisers: 800.272.8258
Appraisers Association of America: 212.889.5404
International Society of Appraisers: 888.472.5461
What made the holes in the Monument?Expand
History itself made them! The walls of the San Jacinto Monument are made of shell limestone from Central Texas. The holes are the fossil remnants of the organisms present millions of years ago in what was to become Central Texas today.
Where is Vince's Bridge located?Expand
The Vince’s Bridge marker is located north of Highway 225. Take Richey St. north. Stay to the left and continue due north over the railroad tracks and the low water bridge for Vince’s Bayou. The marker is located on the opposite bank, on the left.
How do I get to the Santa Anna Capture Site?Expand
From Highway 225, take North Main Street. Turn left on Pitts Ave. and then turn right on Shaver Street. Remaining in the right lane to avoid the Washburn Tunnel, drive along Federal Road and take the second left onto North Shaver St. The marker is located on the right about 100 feet ahead.
Where are the Twin Sister cannons located? What happened to them?Expand
Nobody knows. They were used in the Battle of Galveston on January 1, 1863. The last official mention of the Twin Sisters was in a February 8, 1864, letter to Col. John S. (Rip) Ford from Lt. Walter W. Blow, who intended to send the cannons to Ford for use in an expedition to recapture the Rio Grande from Federal troops.
It is not known if the Twin Sisters actually accompanied the expedition. Legend states that a group of Confederate soldiers buried the Twin Sisters somewhere near Houston or Harrisburg in 1865, to keep them from Union Army, but the truth of the story is not known.
What do the six flags between the Monument and the reflection pool represent?Expand
The flags represent key sites from Texas's struggle for independence. They are the Come and Take it Flag of Gonzales, Stephen F. Austin's Flag for San Felipe de Austin, Sarah Dodson's Lone Star Flag representing Washington-on-the-Brazos, Captain Philip Dimmitt's 1824 flag that flew over the Alamo during its seige and fall, the Bloody Arm Flag of Goliad, and the Lady Liberty Flag of San Jacinto. See the Monument page to learn more.
What does "San Jacinto" mean?Expand
The English translation of San Jacinto is Saint Hyacinth. St. Hyacinth was a 12th century Dominican missionary who spread Christianity through northern Europe. The Battle of San Jacinto takes its name from its location near the San Jacinto River.
There are two versions of how the river was named: the first is that the river may have been discovered on St. Hyacinth’s Day, August 17. The second is that when the river was discovered, passage up the river was blocked by water hyacinths, an aquatic plant.
How tall is the Monument? How much taller than the Washington Monument?Expand
The San Jacinto Memorial Monument is just over 567 feet tall, from the ground to the top of the star. It is 553 feet from the first floor to the top of the star. The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall.
When was the monument built?Expand
Construction on the monument began in 1936, and finished in 1939.
How much did it cost to build?Expand
Jesse H. Jones, head of the Federal Reconstruction Finance Corporation and a Houston financier, brought together $1,500,000 in Federal, State, and local funds to build the monument.
Who was the architect?Expand
The monument was conceived by architect Alfred C. Finn and engineer Robert J. Cummins, from a design suggested by Jesse H. Jones. It was built by W. S. Bellows Construction Company.
What is it made of?Expand
The Monument is made of structural steel, concrete, and Cordova shellstone.
How tall is the star? How much does it weigh? How many points does it have?Expand
The star on the top of the monument is 34 feet high, and weighs about 220 tons. The star has nine points, and was designed so that five points would be visible from any angle.
What was the name of the restaurant that served all you can eat, I remember eating there in the past?Expand
The San Jacinto Inn, first opened in 1919, was well known for its family-style dining, but has been closed for several years.
Additional Phone Numbers:
The Lynchburg Ferry: 281.424.3521
The Monument Inn: 281.949.4785
The Port of Houston Tours: 713.670.2631
Is San Jacinto a Historic Landmark?Expand
The San Jacinto Battlefield received National Historic Landmark designation on December 19, 1960. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
The San Jacinto Monument was designated a Historical Civil Engineering Landmark in 1996.