The San Jacinto Monument commemorates the brave Texan army that fought for independence from Mexico on 21st April 1836. Led by General Sam Houston, for whom the city is named, they boldly attacked the Mexican camp in the middle of the afternoon and within 18 minutes had turned the battle in their favour. Following the battle on the Buffalo Bayou, Texas was an independent state for 10 years before becoming one of the United States of America.
On the centenary of this extraordinary battle, work began on a colossal concrete and limestone memorial to honour the dead. By the time it was finished three years later, the column stretched 174 metres into the sky making the San Jacinto Monument the tallest in the world. To get an idea of the scale of the project, look up at the Lone Star which tops the column: it is 10 metres tall and weighs an incredible 220 tons.
A lift will take you to a viewing platform just below this giant star, 152 metres off the ground. This is just the place to get views across the historic battleground. In the background, you might just see the USS Texas, a survivor of two other historic Wars anchored in Galveston Bay.
In the museum of Texan history at the foot of the Monument, you can see artefacts from the battle including Sam Houston’s personal dictionary and Mexican Army uniforms as well as real Spanish treasure. A fascinating 35-minute film will take you through the events of that day. As you leave the museum, check out the carvings around the base which detail important events surrounding the Texan Revolution.
The Monument is set in 400 hectares of land dedicated to the memory of the fight for independence. The locations of key events are labelled, so you can make your own way round reliving the battle as you go. Picnic tables are available across the site and traditional grills are dotted around the grass, if you want to cook up something hot.
The San Jacinto Battleground and Monument are open every day. It is free to explore the park, although entry to the monument is subject to a small charge. It is an easy 30 minute drive from the city and free parking is available.
