TEXAS SIZE CELEBRATION AT SAN JACINTO
(Please be aware this post was written in 2004 and published at that time in the Houston Chronicle (Houston, Texas) newspaper. Some of the news in this post, therefore, may not be current. Current and future posts on this blog may revisit and update news on this and other posts on this blog. If you have questions and/or suggestions, please send Mic a note using the comment page -Don’t forget to use the orange “subscribe” button to receive new posts-Thanks, Mic)
In 1836 it took only 18 minutes for the Texians under General Sam Houston to defeat Santa Anna and his army of Mexicans at San Jacinto. Next Saturday, April 24, modern day Texians may watch a reenactment of the famous battle at San Jacinto and celebrate all day at the San Jacinto Day Freedom Festival. The festival will be held on the grounds of San Jacinto Battlefield State Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Re-enactors from both the Texian and Mexican sides who were featured in the recently released movie The Alamo and two other recent History Channel programs on Texas Independence will offer attendees a glimpse of living history demonstrating how the events unfolded at San Jacinto on Thursday April 21, 1836, the actual day of the battle. Before and after the 3 p.m. battle reenactment festival go-ers will be able to visit the camps of both armies and see how each lived and ask questions of the re-enactors. There is also a museum inside the Battlefield Monument featuring items of interest concerning the battlefield and its participants. Admission to the battle reenactment, festival and museum is free. A fee of $7.50 for adults and $5 for children will admit one to both the theater presentation about the battle and the observation level of the Battlefield Monument. For more information about the San Jacinto Day Freedom Festival and Battle Reenactment, telephone 281/479-2421 or log on to the website, http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org .
BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO SYMPOSIUM
Texas Revolution history enthusiasts will want to attend the Battle of San Jacinto Symposium, Digging for Texas History; New Insights into the Battle of San Jacinto and the Origins of the Texas Revolution. The symposium is sponsored by the San Jacinto Battleground Association and will be held Friday April 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center, University of Houston. Admission is $35 and includes lunch. For more information and to register contact 281-496-1488. Moderated by Dr. James E. Crisp an Associate Professor of History at North Carolina State University the symposium will feature several esteemed speakers and intriguing topics. Michael Strutt, Director of Cultural Resources, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department will speak on Archeology at San Jacinto, and the Latest Findings: Ted Hollingsworth, Senior Project Manager, Land Conservation, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department will speak on Restoring the Environment of a Battle; Gregg Cantrell, Ph.D. Professor of History at Texas Christian University will speak on Anglo Texans and the Road to Revolution; Andres Tijerina, Ph.D. Professor of History at Austin Community College will speak on The Tejano Side of the Texas Revolution; and John Wheat of the Center for American History at the University of Texas will explain why Their Audacity Is Now Intolerable: Col. Juan N. Almonte and the Texas Revolution.
NEW BOOK ON THE ALAMO
George Nelson has published a book Alamo and Texas history aficionados will love. Nelson, an artist, sculptor, archaeologist and student of Texas and Alamo history has long been interested in the ever changing history of the building known as the Alamo. For over twenty five years prior to publishing his book he visited and reviewed collections of old maps, drawing and pictures of the Alamo site in the United States, Mexico, Spain and England. The Alamo: An Illustrated History was first published in 1997. In 1999 Nelson revised the book for which he has won several prestigious awards. Currently the book is one of the hottest selling items at the Alamo gift shop. Set designers of the newly released movie, The Alamo, used artist renderings and historical information from Nelson’s book to create the set in their new movie. The book features over one hundred old maps, drawings and photographs depicting the interior and exterior of the ever changing Alamo. Text accompanying the illustrations tells the story of the Alamo over its lifespan and three hundred year history. The Alamo: An Illustrated History is available in hardcover for $34 or in soft cover for $25 from Aldine Press, HCR 32-109 Uvalde, Texas 78801 or from the author’s website at http://www.gnelsonstudio.com/ .
