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Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site

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Visiting Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is an enjoyable experience on two levels. First, the expansive park grounds along the Brazos River provide a beautiful setting for picnicking, sightseeing and birdwatching. And secondly, the Star of the Republic Museum, Independence Hall and Barrington Living History Farm, offer the visitor a unique insight into the lives and times of the men who fought and won Texas' independence from Mexico

This picturesque park is located on the Brazos River, Washington was the site of the 1836 General Convention which would decide the fate of Texas. Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is revered as the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. Washington remained a town of some prominence in early Texas until the eve of the Civil War.

The park encompasses the site of the historic town (1836). Washington was the first county seat of Washington County in 1836, the capitol of Texas from 1842 to 1845, and the home of the last president of the Republic of Texas, Anson Jones. Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, the seat of Texas Independence, is the center each year for the Texas Independence Day Celebration, under the direction of the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association.

Washington-on-the-Brazos in Washington County consists of 293.1 acres. The land was acquired by deed from private owners in 1916. It was transferred to the State Parks Board from the State Board of Control by the Legislature in 1949. Then in 1976 and 1996, more land was acquired by deed from private owners.

Today the park is maintained by Texas Parks and Wildlife. The Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association assists the park and the Star of the Republic Museum in this effort. The museum's administration falls under the jurisdiction of Blinn College in Brenham.

Barrington Living History Farm, home of Anson Jones, last President of the Republic of Texas. Handcrafted reproduction log buildings and cropland demonstrate the working of a Brazos Valley farm, circa 1850. Interpreters in period costume work the farm as it was done long ago.

All facilities in the park and the museum are accessible to the physically challenged.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Contact Info

    Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site

    12300 Park Road 12
    (FM-1155 & Park Road 12 W)
    Washington, TX 77880-0305

    Phone: 936/878-2214   |   Email   |   Official Website

  • Map

    Full map and directions

  • Accessibility Services

    There is no accessibility service information available at this time.

  • Technical Specs

    The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Gate is open from 8 a.m. until sundown.
    Barrington Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
    
    From Houston:
    Take Highway 290 West to Highway 6 at Hempstead. Take Highway 6 North to Navasota. From Navasota, take Highway 105 West 7 miles and turn left on FM 1155 to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.

  • • Current Events

      There are no current events at this time.

  • • Upcoming Events

      02/11/12- 02/12/12	Beasts of Burden Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site Beasts of Burden Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site February 11-February 12, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Beasts of Burden - February 11 & 12, 2012. Farmers of the 1850s relied on beasts of burden to cultivate a life from the soil. During the “Beasts of Burden” program, visitors will have the opportunity to see draught animals working a field to prepare it for planting. The tools that will be utilized are a plow, cultivator and harrow of the time period. Washington-on-the-Brazos State...
      02/18/12	Big Man Around Town: Notable Residents of Washington Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site Big Man Around Town: Notable Residents of Washington Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site February 18, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Big Man Around Town: Notable Residents of Washington. An introduction to the Inhabitants of Old Washington. Join us on February 18, 2012 at Independence Hallas we explore the lives of some of the many colorful and prominent inhabitants of Washington, TX. Come hear the stories of the 1830s and 1840s town and of the men whose time here reshaped the future of Texas. Lead Interpreter Scott...
      03/03/12- 03/04/12	176th Anniversary of Texas Independence: Texas Independence Day Celebration Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site 176th Anniversary of Texas Independence: Texas Independence Day Celebration Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site March 3-March 4, 2012 The 176th anniversary of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence will be commemorated during a Texas Independence Day Celebration, a free two-day festival March 3-4, 2012, at Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. The festival will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and provide endless opportunities for family-oriented activities. All admission fees will be waived during the celebration...
      03/17/12	SIMPLY THE SIGNERS: A Look at the Various Signers of The Declaration of Independence Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site SIMPLY THE SIGNERS: A Look at the Various Signers of The Declaration of Independence Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site March 17, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. SIMPLY THE SIGNERS: A Look at the Various Signers of The Declaration of Independence. Saturday, March 17, 2012 Join us for a special look at the courageous men who risked everything to establish Texas as an independent republic. Listen in as our interpreters share exciting and colorful stories from the lives of many of our Texas heroes. "Good thing we've still got politics in Texas - finest form of...
      03/24/12- 03/25/12	True Texas Women Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site True Texas Women Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site March 24-March 25, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. True Texas Women. Saturday and Sunday, March 24th and 25th at Barrington Living History Farm. Come see artisans spinning, crocheting, quilting, tatting, and crafting items that pioneer women would have been proud to display in their homes. Explore the lives of these “gentle tamers and sun bonneted helpmates”. Though separated by time from the pioneer women who settled this vast land known as Texas, we...
      04/21/12	Painters in the Park Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site Painters in the Park Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site April 21, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Painters in the Park.  Local Artists painting scenery from Washington - Saturday, April 21, 2012. Join us this spring at Washington on the Brazos, the perfect time to take advantage of our beautiful scenery with an afternoon of painting or sketching. Painters, sketch artists and photographers alike are encouraged to visit the park and create their own piece representing Texas’ rich and diverse cultural...

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    NOTE: We do our best to ensure all information is accurate. However, it's a good idea to visit the website or call the venue to verify the information.

• Current &
  Upcoming Events

  • Current Events

    There are no current events at this time.

  • Upcoming Events

    02/11/12- 02/12/12	Beasts of Burden Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site Beasts of Burden Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site February 11-February 12, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Beasts of Burden - February 11 & 12, 2012. Farmers of the 1850s relied on beasts of burden to cultivate a life from the soil. During the “Beasts of Burden” program, visitors will have the opportunity to see draught animals working a field to prepare it for planting. The tools that will be utilized are a plow, cultivator and harrow of the time period. Washington-on-the-Brazos State...
    02/18/12	Big Man Around Town: Notable Residents of Washington Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site Big Man Around Town: Notable Residents of Washington Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site February 18, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Big Man Around Town: Notable Residents of Washington. An introduction to the Inhabitants of Old Washington. Join us on February 18, 2012 at Independence Hallas we explore the lives of some of the many colorful and prominent inhabitants of Washington, TX. Come hear the stories of the 1830s and 1840s town and of the men whose time here reshaped the future of Texas. Lead Interpreter Scott...
    03/03/12- 03/04/12	176th Anniversary of Texas Independence: Texas Independence Day Celebration Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site 176th Anniversary of Texas Independence: Texas Independence Day Celebration Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site March 3-March 4, 2012 The 176th anniversary of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence will be commemorated during a Texas Independence Day Celebration, a free two-day festival March 3-4, 2012, at Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. The festival will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and provide endless opportunities for family-oriented activities. All admission fees will be waived during the celebration...
    03/17/12	SIMPLY THE SIGNERS: A Look at the Various Signers of The Declaration of Independence Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site SIMPLY THE SIGNERS: A Look at the Various Signers of The Declaration of Independence Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site March 17, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. SIMPLY THE SIGNERS: A Look at the Various Signers of The Declaration of Independence. Saturday, March 17, 2012 Join us for a special look at the courageous men who risked everything to establish Texas as an independent republic. Listen in as our interpreters share exciting and colorful stories from the lives of many of our Texas heroes. "Good thing we've still got politics in Texas - finest form of...
    03/24/12- 03/25/12	True Texas Women Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site True Texas Women Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site March 24-March 25, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. True Texas Women. Saturday and Sunday, March 24th and 25th at Barrington Living History Farm. Come see artisans spinning, crocheting, quilting, tatting, and crafting items that pioneer women would have been proud to display in their homes. Explore the lives of these “gentle tamers and sun bonneted helpmates”. Though separated by time from the pioneer women who settled this vast land known as Texas, we...
    04/21/12	Painters in the Park Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site Painters in the Park Presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site April 21, 2012 History Comes Alive at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Painters in the Park.  Local Artists painting scenery from Washington - Saturday, April 21, 2012. Join us this spring at Washington on the Brazos, the perfect time to take advantage of our beautiful scenery with an afternoon of painting or sketching. Painters, sketch artists and photographers alike are encouraged to visit the park and create their own piece representing Texas’ rich and diverse cultural...

• Past
  Events

  • Past Events

    01/28/12- 01/29/12	Life on the Frontier at Washington-on-the-Brazos: Make every stitch count Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    01/21/12	GAME APLENTY: An Introduction to 19th Century Hunting Practices Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    01/14/12- 01/15/12	Life on the Frontier at Washington-on-the-Brazos: Butchering and Curing Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    10/29/11- 10/30/11	Smithing in Texas Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    10/22/11	Night at the Star of the Republic Museum Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    07/04/11	12th Annual Fireworks-on-the-Brazos Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    05/28/11- 05/29/11	A Day in the Garden at Barrington Living History Farm Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    03/26/11- 03/27/11	True Texas Women Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    02/26/11- 02/27/11	Texas Independence Day Celebration Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    01/29/11- 01/30/11	Life on the Frontier at Washington-on-the-Brazos: Make every stitch count Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    01/15/11- 01/16/11	Life on the Frontier at Washington-on-the-Brazos: Butchering and Curing Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    08/07/10- 08/08/10	Cotton Pickin' Good Time Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    07/04/10	Fireworks-on-the-Brazos Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    06/26/10- 06/27/10	Aww Shucks Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    06/16/10- 08/11/10	The Bison: American Icon Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    05/29/10- 05/30/10	Food and Flowers: A Day in the Garden at Barrington Living History Farm Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    03/27/10- 03/28/10	True Texas Women Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    02/27/10- 02/28/10	Texas Independence Day Celebration Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    01/23/10- 01/31/10	Life on the Frontier at Washington-on-the-Brazos (Saturday-Sunday) Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    07/25/09- 07/26/09	Aww Shucks Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    07/04/09	Fireworks-on-the-Brazos Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    05/02/09- 05/03/09	Hands and Feet: A Musical Celebration Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    02/28/09- 03/01/09	Texas Independence Day Celebration Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
    01/10/09- 01/11/09	Remembering Anson Jones Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site