VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site holds a significant responsibility to preserve the proud history of the State of Texas and the United States. The famous Battle of San Jacinto that brought TEXAS its independence was fought on this site. Because of the great importance of the Battle to the course of history, the Battleground is of state, national and international significance, a fact that is attested to by the site's National Historic Landmark status.

The primary purpose of the 1,200-acre site is to commemorate the Battle and to preserve the Battleground on which Texian troops under General Sam Houston achieved the independence of Texas by defeating a Mexican Army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on April 21, 1836.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site consists of the Battleground, Monument and Battleship TEXAS. At the base of the Monument is the San Jacinto Museum of History. Visitors to the San Jacinto Museum of History and Monument can begin riding the elevator to the newly renovated Observation Floor.

And now the permanent exhibit in the Museum gallery, the gift shop, the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library, and the Jesse H. Jones Theatre for Texas Studies that presents Texas Forever!! The Battle of San Jacinto are open for the public to enjoy.

Thousands of school children visit the San Jacinto Museum of History and Monument each year. This is a perfect place for them to learn details about Texas history in a truly hands-on environment and look out from the observation floor of the 567-foot monument - visitors enjoy a view that includes the Houston skyline, the Ship Channel and can look down on the sacred battlefield where soldiers fought for Texas’ independence from Mexico.