Editor’s note: Washinton-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is a park within a twohour drive from Rockdale. Today we look at the main park complex and next week Barrington Plantation:
In freezing weather, in an unfinished building with no heat and only cloth covering the holes for windows in the rough-hewn town of Washington, 59 men huddled together to forge a document built on principals gleaned from the formation of the United States of America that declared Texas a free republic and no long constrained by the bounds of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who had abandoned Mexico’s Constitution of 1824.
The men then went on to draw up a constitution based on the U.S. Constitution, the Mexican Constitution of 1824, the Magna Carta and Spanish law. During their time in the capital of the new republic of Texas as they formed a new government with David G. Burnet of New Jersey as the first president, the Alamo fell.
They and the few residents of the town that had only recently been carved out of a forest had to flee the advancing Mexican troops in what came to be known as the Runaway Scrape.
Col. William Fairfax Gray, a Virginia-born Texian, had this to say about leaving Washington in 1836, “Left Washington at 10 o’clock. Glad to get out of so disgusting a place. It is laid out in the woods; about a dozen wretched cabins or shanties constitute the city; not one decent house in it, and only one well defined street, which consists of an opening cut out of the woods. The stumps still standing. A rare place to hold a national convention in. They will have to leave it promptly to avoid starvation.”
That “disgusting place” is now a very nice state park called Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site and visitors there will find a wealth of historical information and learning opportunities.
Visitor Services Complex
Once parked this is the first building to enter to buy tickets for the other sites at the park. The center has exhibits, some interactive, and a gift shop. A trail to Independence Hall.
Independence Hall
The building now on site is not original, but it stands very near to where the original building was. In fact, there is a monument that is next to the current building that marks where the original stood. Inside the building, near the corner of Main
Inside the building, near the corner of Main and Ferry Streets, is a long table like the one the national convention delegates sat along and around during the 17 days of the convention for independence. The windows just have a cloth covering.
On the third Saturday of each month, the next will be June 19, one of the park’s educators will give a demonstration of something that relates to life in the new republic of Texas.
Past demonstrations have included outdoor cooking demonstrations, discussions of medicines and the use of quill pens.
Adam Arnold, one of the educators, recently showed visitors how to use a quill pen. He explained how the pens were made, how to use it and let people sign copies of declaration of independence with it.
Past the hall toward the Brazos River visitors will find a huge pecan tree that is 208 years old. It is the La Bahia pecan tree. There is also
There is also the old Washington town site and a wildflower loop down Ferry Street.
Star of the Republic Museum
Once in the museum, visitors are treated to a big display with a Bowie knife, a Colt Walker called at the time a hand cannon, a longhorn trophy head, and portrait of Sam Houston and other items.
Don’t miss the 30-minute film “Independence: A Lone Star Rises,” which details the struggle for freedom.
Deeper into the museum the exhibits show what the lives were like for the early Anglo Texicans and Tejanos who together birthed the nation of Texas.
There is a stuffed bison on display to remind that the state was once home to huge herds of the animal that almost went extinct and other stuffed animals to remind those of the bounty Texas offered at the time.
Republic of Texas money is on display as well as flags from the early days of the state. There words posted throughout the muse
There words posted throughout the museums reflecting the thoughts of the early, notables of the republic. Such as this one from Sam Houston about someone he disagreed with politically and who was the editor and publisher of a newspaper of the republic, “He could write more malicious falsehoods than any man with two arms I ever saw.” He wrote this about Francis Moore Jr. who had only one arm and was three times elected mayor of Houston.
If you go
Getting there: Take US 79 to US 36 to Brenham, in Brenham take Business 36 (north Park Street) to East Blue Bell Road, which is also 577, then take a left on 105 that leads to the park. There will be a sign showing you to turn right off 105 and onto the road that leads to the park.
Tickets: Adults: $8 Students (Age 6-18 and college students): $5 Children (Age 5 and under): Free Family Pass (Includes 2 adults and 1 student): $20 Each additional student is $1 Seniors & Veterans: $7
Food: There are no restaurants at the park, but snacks are available in the museum store.
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