San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site facts for kids
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San Jacinto Battlefield
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The San Jacinto Monument and reflection pool at the San Jacinto Battleground
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 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Harris County, Texas |
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| Nearest city | Houston |
| Area | 1,200 acres (490 ha) |
| Built | 1836 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000815 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is a special place in Harris County, Texas, near Houston. It's where the famous Battle of San Jacinto happened. This battle was a very important part of the Texas Revolution. The site was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1960 because of its historical importance.
A huge and impressive part of the park is the San Jacinto Monument. You can ride an elevator to the top of the monument. From there, you get an amazing view of Houston, the Houston Ship Channel, and the historic battlefield.
Contents
The Story of San Jacinto Battleground
The story of the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site began in the 1880s. At that time, the State of Texas bought ten acres of land along Buffalo Bayou. This was to get ready for the 50th anniversary of the Texas Revolution.
Creating a State Park
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) worked hard to get more money from the Texas Legislature for San Jacinto. In 1897, a senator from Houston, Waller Thomas Burns, helped pass a law. This law provided $10,000 to create a public park. This money helped buy 336 more acres of land at San Jacinto.
Later, in 1907, the state gave another $25,000 for improvements. The area was officially named San Jacinto State Park. It was the very first official state park in Texas! A local group, chosen by the governor, helped manage the park. More improvements were made before the 1928 Democratic National Convention in Houston. In 2016, a project funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed important updates to the site's seawall.
San Jacinto Museum
Inside the base of the tall San Jacinto Monument, you'll find the San Jacinto Museum. This museum doesn't just focus on the Battle of San Jacinto. It also teaches visitors about the rich history of Texan culture.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum's exhibits show how different cultures, like Mayan, Spanish, and Mexican, influenced Texas. You can learn all about the Texas Revolution and the time when Texas was its own country, the Republic of Texas. The museum also highlights important people from Texas history. There's even a 160-seat theater called the Jesse H. Jones Theatre for Texas Studies. Here, you can watch a 35-minute movie called Texas Forever!! The Battle of San Jacinto.
Battleship Texas
The Battleship Texas is a very special ship. On April 17, 1947, the Texas Legislature created a group to take care of the ship. Their first job was to raise $225,000 to move the ship from Baltimore to San Jacinto.
A New Home for a Historic Ship
On March 17, 1948, the Texas began its journey to its new home. It arrived on April 20, near the San Jacinto Monument. The next day, April 21, the ship was given to the State of Texas to be a permanent memorial. April 21 is a very important date because it's when the Battle of San Jacinto happened in 1836. That battle led to the creation of the Republic of Texas.
The Texas was the first battleship in the United States to become a memorial museum. When it was given to Texas, it became the flagship of the Texas Navy. On August 31, 2022, the Texas was moved from San Jacinto to Galveston for major repairs. Its new permanent home is now in Galveston.
Images for kids
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Texas and the monument at sunrise in late 2007.
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A large armillary sphere at the San Jacinto Battle Field.
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A granite marker showing where Sam Houston's horse was killed.
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Replicas of the famous Twin Sisters cannons.
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The San Jacinto Monument standing tall at the battlefield.
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The San Jacinto Monument seen from the water's edge.
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A sign explaining the history of the park's creation.
