Sally Anne Schmidt and Eron Tynes present the early history of the San Jacinto Battleground, the site of one of the most significant battles in the Western Hemisphere. The movement to designate the San Jacinto Battleground as a patriotic shrine began in 1856 when a group of Texas veterans gathered at the site and initiated a fund for a memorial monument. The San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was established in 1891, with the immediate goal of acquiring and marking the Battlegrounds of San Jacinto, where the Republic of Texas was born. For years, members of the San Jacinto Chapter collaborated with the State Legislature to secure the necessary land, leading to the establishment of Texas's first State Park in 1907. During this period, chapter members worked with Texas veterans to mark key historic sites of the battle with granite markers.
As the 100th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto approached, plans to build a monument honoring all Texas heroes gained momentum. Under the leadership of Jesse Jones, significant improvements were made to the park for the Texas Centennial, with the continued influence and involvement of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
Sally Anne Schmidt and Eron Tynes will present their talk at the History Under the Star lecture series on Saturday, November 16, 2024. The talk will run from 5:00 to 6:00 and will be followed by a time for questions and answers, and a reception.
Cost: $5 per person/$3 for Museum members; students are free. Purchase your ticket today.