Texas Independence Day marks the date that Texas became an independent Republic. Watch for festivities to kick off this year on Thursday, March 2, 2023 with parades, festivals, special events and festivities celebrating a proud day in Texas history.
https://www.chiff.com/travel/texas-independence-day.htm

What's open and closed on Texas Independence Day

Texas Indpendence Day is a state public holiday, so state government offices will be effectively closed.

In practice, this means skeleton crews will be on duty for most of the day. But it's probably best NOT to schedule a DMV visit or any other state officies during the holiday. Depending on the particular community some schools and businesses may also be closed on this day.


All about Texas Independence Day

The history of the Lone Star State is a reflection of the people who shaped it.

Long before the Convention of 1836 proclaimed Texas independent, native American nations called the land their home.

They, in turn, were followed by French and Spanish settlers and then by Americans moving westward from the eastern reaches of the continent and the newly formed United States of America.

The early days of independence were not easy. Spain, through Mexico, was not happy to lose the wealth and power that Texas represented. The fighting was long and bitter.

The Alamo was just one of the battles that were fought to keep freedom in the land and maintain home rule. This one battle came to symbolize the struggle. The cry of, "Remember the Alamo" helped the Texans fighting against Santa Anna and the Mexican army. William Travis wrote from the Alamo, "...our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender nor retreat."
The Alamo, San Antionio
"Remember the Alamo"

On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas. Under the flag with one "lone star" Texans declared their independence, formed a democratic Republic and fought with pride to preserve their freedom.

Texas Independence Day, March 2, is an official state holiday and is celebrated by all Texans to honor the memory of the pioneers of the state's independence.

In Houston, Texas Independence Day celebrations have also become a part of the festivities at the annual Rodeo Houston.

All over Texas, parades and barbecue are the order of the day, with a full reenactment of the Convention of 1836 that resulted in Texas Independence. The biggest parade, in Austin, usually occurs on a weekend closest to the 2nd, at the Congress Avenue Bridge.


DID YOU KNOW? Texas Independence Day fun facts

• Texans were crushed at the Alamo, and again defeated at the Battle of Goliad when all signs pointed to an ultimate victory for Mexico. That's when an over-confident Mexican General Santa Anna decided to split his 6,000-man army into three separate units. The infamous tactical error resulted in decisive win for Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto where Sam Houston's troops ("Remember the Alamo!") defeated the Mexican army in just 18 minutes.

• Adding insult to injury, Mexican General Santa Anna lost his leg during the Texas Revolution. But he was later fitted with a wooden leg which, in turn, was later captured by the 4th Illinois Infantry during the Mexican-American War. Today, the fake appendage can still be seen on display at the Illinois State Military Museum.


The original Lone Star flag.

• A lone star flag has always flown over Texas, but not always in the same colors. The first flag featured a bright yellow star on a dark blue background. The "Burnet Flag" was so called because David G. Burnet was provisional president of the Republic of Texas when the flag was adopted in 1836. Two years later, it was replaced by the familiar blue, white and red flag that is still beloved by Texans today.

• The Alamo's famous facade was badly deteriorating by the early 20th century when, alarmed by its condition, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas made a plan for its preservation. But internal differences resulted in a second 'battle of the Alamo' that finally ended up in court. The case was finally settled by Governor Oscar Colquitt who stepped in to secure state funds for total restoration of the famous site.


also see -> This Christmas in Texas | Texas Beaches | Texas Wineries


More about Texas Independence Day around the Web:

Special Report - Texas Independence Day - This summary of the history and a copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence that was signed on March 2, 1836 are just a part of the offerings of this site. They also have a listing of Notable Native Texans.

Where Texas Became Texas - Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park commemorates the spot where the delegates to the Convention of 1836 met to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence which created the Republic of Texas. An audience participation play lets you become one of the delegates to the Convention and relive the events.

Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site - Revered as the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836 and today the venue for the annual Texas Independence Day Festival with related attractions, map, directions and video.

Documents of Early Texas - This site has copies of the original of Travis' Appeal from the Alamo, February 24, 1836; The Texas Declaration of Independence, March 2, 1836; The Treaty of Velasco, (including Spanish transcription) May 14, 1836; The Resolution Annexing Texas to the United States, March 1, 1845 and the Texas Ordinance of Secession, February 2, 1861.

San Jacinto, Battle of

By: L. W. Kemp
Type: General Entry
Published: 1952
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entr...cinto-battle-of
Updated: August 4, 2020


The Battle of San Jacinto (1895)
Painting, The Battle of San Jacinto (1895) by Henry Arthur McArdle. Courtesy of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.


Replicas of the Twin Sister Cannons
Replicas of the Twin Sister Cannons. Courtesy of Ernest Mettendorf Photography. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.

San Jacinto, Battle of.The battle of San Jacinto was the concluding military event of the Texas Revolution. On March 13, 1836, the revolutionary army at Gonzales began to retreat eastward. It crossed the Colorado River on March 17 and camped near present Columbus on March 20, recruiting and reinforcements having increased its size to 1,200 men. Sam Houston's scouts reported Mexican troops west of the Colorado to number 1,325. On March 25 the Texans learned of James W. Fannin's defeat at Goliad (see GOLIAD CAMPAIGN OF 1836), and many of the men left the army to join their families on the Runaway Scrape. Sam Houston led his troops to San Felipe de Austin by March 28 and by March 30 to the Jared E. Groce plantation on the Brazos River, where they camped and drilled for a fortnight. Ad interim President David G. Burnet ordered Houston to stop his retreat; Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk urged him to take a more decisive course. Antonio López de Santa Anna decided to take possession of the Texas coast and seaports. With that object in view he crossed the Brazos River at present Richmond on April 11 and on April 15, with some 700 men, arrived at Harrisburg. He burned Harrisburg and started in pursuit of the Texas government at New Washington or Morgan's Point, where he arrived on April 19 to find that the government had fled to Galveston. The Mexican general then set out for Anahuac by way of Lynchburg. Meanwhile, the Texans, on April 11, received the Twin Sisters and with the cannon as extra fortification crossed the Brazos River on the Yellow Stone and on April 16 reached Spring Creek in present Harris County. On April 17, to the gratification of his men, Houston took the road to Harrisburg instead of the road to Louisiana and on April 18 reached White Oak Bayou at a site within the present city limits of Houston. There he learned that Santa Anna had gone down the west side of the bayou and the San Jacinto River, crossing by a bridge over Vince's Bayou. The Mexicans would have to cross the same bridge to return.

Viewing this strategic situation on the morning of April 19, Houston told his troops that it looked as if they would soon get action and admonished them to remember the massacres at San Antonio and at Goliad. On the evening of April 19 his forces crossed Buffalo Bayou to the west side 2½ miles below Harrisburg. Some 248 men, mostly sick and ineffective, were left with the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg. The march was continued until midnight. At dawn on April 20 the Texans resumed their trek down the bayou and at Lynch's Ferry captured a boat laden with supplies for Santa Anna. They then drew back about a mile on the Harrisburg road and encamped in a skirt of timber protected by a rising ground. That afternoon Sidney Sherman with a small detachment of cavalry engaged the enemy infantry, almost bringing on a general action. In the clash Olwyns J. Trask was mortally wounded, one other Texan was wounded, and several horses were killed. Mirabeau B. Lamar, a private, so distinguished himself that on the next day he was placed in command of the cavalry. Santa Anna made camp under the high ground overlooking a marsh about three-fourths of a mile from the Texas camp and threw up breastworks of trunks, baggage, packsaddles, and other equipment. Both sides prepared for the conflict. On Thursday morning, April 21, the Texans were eager to attack. About nine o'clock they learned that Martín Perfecto de Cos had crossed Vince's bridge with about 540 troops and had swelled the enemy forces to about 1,200. Houston ordered Erastus (Deaf) Smith to destroy the bridge and prevent further enemy reinforcements. The move would prevent the retreat of either the Texans or the Mexicans towards Harrisburg.-- excerpt, rest at link above --

Quote: Tinker wrote in post #4

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We had a double celebration here yesterday. Texas Independence and our 55th anniversary. Won't be around much for the rest of this week.

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Quote: Tinker wrote in post #4

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We had a double celebration here yesterday. Texas Independence and our 55th anniversary. Won't be around much for the rest of this week.

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