How Big Is Texas

Exploring the Texas Independence Trail Region – Day 4

diannbayes

The final leg of our Texas Independence Trail Region tour started at the Fannin Battleground State Historic Site on the 185th anniversary of the Battle of Coleto Creek and the surrender of Col. James Fannin and his troops to Mexican commanders.

A few days after the surrender, rather than making them prisoners of war, General Santa Anna executed the men. These hallowed grounds were hauntingly beautiful and the battle that took place here was significant to the history of Texas.

From Fannin, we traveled to Goliad. While I’ve been to this historic community, Debbie had never visited.

We started at Goliad State Park and Mission Espíritu Santo. I hadn’t walked the Aranama Nature Trail at the park. The San Antonio River runs through this area. The views and the fresh air were welcome after riding in the car a few hours. The mission is lovely and includes a rich history of the area. It was refreshing for me to see these beautiful structures maintained after so many years. Also, if you’re an RV’er, this is a great park to reserve for a few days and explore the area.

I’m unsure of the number of times I’ve visited Goliad, the Presidio-La Bahia, and the Fannin Memorial Monument. I’ll admit to always getting a bit teary eyed when I enter La Bahia and hear the beautifully haunting music played in the church. When the soldiers surrendered on the Fannin Battleground, they expected to be treated as prisoners of war, but instead almost all were killed on these sacred grounds. From this loss came the famous battle cry, “Remember Goliad.”

The Angel of Goliad, Francita Alavez, was a heroine of the Texas Revolution. She interceded when the Mexican army started killing the Texian army and was able to save the lives of a number of the men. Surrounding her statue between the Fannin Memorial Monument and Presidio La-Bahia are tables and benches with the names of some of the military she saved. Because of her efforts, these families exist.

After leaving the beautiful community of Goliad, we got to our final destination on the Texas Independence Trail Region – San Antonio. With so many options in the Alamo City from which to choose and with limited time, I decided to take Debbie to Mission San Jose, one of four missions in the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. In 2015, these missions, as well as the Alamo, were recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO.

As a Native Texan, I can’t emphasize enough how much I love the Alamo, but Mission San Jose is one of my favorites of the sites because it reveals a bit more of the story with the grounds, the walls, and the mission, giving the visitor an inside scoop, if you will, of the way things might have been when the missions were first built. Mission San Jose is stunning. The next time you’re in San Antonio, take a tour of all the missions and see for yourself the important role they played in the founding of the city.
While we didn’t get to the Alamo due to time constraints, so I felt I had to include a photo of one of the most iconic structures in the state of Texas. A 13-day siege, where the odds were never in favor of the Texian army, saw the loss of heroic Texas figures Colonel James Bowie, Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis, and David (Davy) Crockett, as well as those who fought under their direction. People have been “remembering the Alamo” for as far back as I can remember, whether they understood what it meant or not.

Did you know the remains of those who fought in the Alamo, including Travis, Crockett, and Bowie are entombed at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio?

There’s so much more I could include about San Antonio and everything there is to see and do there, like enjoying great cuisine and delicious margaritas by the riverwalk, but it will have to wait until my next visit.

I encourage you to explore the Texas Independence Trail Region and the other Texas Heritage Trails for yourself. And if you’re ever on the Texas Forts Trail and near San Angelo, give me a shout out.

Until next time from Texas … safe travels!

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