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Alamo Historical Sites in Texas Old Building Front

Traveler’s Guide to the Best Historical Sites in Texas

by | Culture, Festive, Guide, Texas

The state of Texas has a long and varied past that’s fully reflected in its many historical sites. A melting pot of cultures has made the Lone Star state evolve into what we see today.  

The second-largest state in the United States has everything from Spanish colonial architecture to battleships and ancient villages. The only question for history (and travel) lovers is how to visit all the historical sites dotted throughout Texas. 

We’ve come up with a list of some must-see historical sites in Texas. And don’t forget to try out the outstanding cuisine you’ll find throughout the state, from Tex-Mex to barbecues and more. 

What Is the Most Historical Site in Texas? 

Everyone will have a personal favorite historical site in Texas. It will be no surprise that opinions vary when you consider that, according to the Texas Historical Commission, Texas has: 

  • Almost 4,000 buildings listed as Texas Historic Landmarks; 
  • Some 76,840 registered archaeological sites; and 
  • More than 900 local history museums. 

Let’s look at some of Texas’ most famous historical landmarks, in approximate date order from the furthest back to more modern institutions. 

Caddo Mounds State Historic Site 

Weeping Mary was home to the indigenous Caddo people thousands of years ago. Caddo Mounds State Historic Site sheds light on these ancient people’s traditions and ways of life, once the most highly developed and dominant culture in what is now Texas. 

Did you know?: The Caddo word “tejas” which means friend, gave its name to Texas. 

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San Felipe de Austin Historic Site 

In 1823, Stephen F. Austin established a colony for early settlers in Texas. The San Felipe de Austin Historic Site and museum offers people the chance to walk in the footsteps of those pioneers. 

Best Historical Sites in Texas About the Revolution 

Historical Sites in Texas Monumentsource

Much of modern Texas history stems from its wars of independence. Legends have been built upon the actions of those that fought to bring freedom to the Lone Star state. 

These are just some of the 19th-century historical places that helped make Texas what it is today. 

The Alamo 

One of Texas’s most famous historical sites is the Alamo — and it’s not just about the Texan revolution. 

The Alamo was established in 1718 as the Spanish Mission San Antonio de Valero. It has flown the flags of five nations and is best known for the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. The Mexican Army may have won the day but the Alamo became a battle cry that rallied the independence troops to their ultimate victory. 

Nowadays, the Alamo is home to a museum and revolutionary artifacts, with the famous bullet holes in its chapel walls and a telling of Texas’ colonization up to its independence battle. 

It’s part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, connected by the Mission Trail, for those who want a more in-depth visit. 

San Jacinto Monument and Museum 

The San Jacinto battleground is among the most revered sites in the state, advertised as the place where “18 minutes changed the world.” It certainly shifted Texas history. 

At the battle of San Jacinto in 1836, General Sam Houston defeated Mexican General Santa Anna’s army and marked Texas’ independence from Mexico. 

The mound that marks the battle is now home to the San Jacinto Monument and Museum, just outside Houston on the Houston Ship Canal. This 567-feet San Jacinto monument is dedicated to those who helped create the Republic of Texas. 

The Fannin Battleground 

The Texan battle for independence wasn’t always easy. In 1836, Mexican General Santa Anna and his Mexican army forced Texas Colonel James W. Fannin to surrender at the Battle of Coleto Creek. 

Santa Anna captured Texan soldiers from a nearby battle at Goliad. Ignoring the wishes of his commanders, Santa Anna executed them all, causing outrage and creating the battle cry “Remember Goliad” that inspired the rest of the campaign. 

The Fannin Battleground State Historic Site features a museum and interpretive exhibition across its 14-acre grounds. 

Crockett Fountain and Plaque 

Crockett is the fifth-oldest city in Texas, named after Davy Crockett, who stopped here on his way to the Alamo in 1836. Crocket then made his way to the Alamo and defended the local Mission from the Mexican Army. 

Crockett died at the Alamo, some say heroically defending the Mission, others saying he surrendered. Whichever way, Crockett city has honored his bravery with a fountain and plaque marking his camp spot within the Alamo’s grounds. 

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Washington on the Brazos 

Washington on the Brazos is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Texas. It was here that the General Convention met to draft, and 59 delegates signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in March of 1836. 

Here history meets nature. People can visit the Star of the Republic Museum and Independence Hall, full of artifacts that tell the Texas story of self-determination. There is also the Barrington Plantation, home to Dr. Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas, and which is now a living history and still functional farm. 

After your visit, enjoy picnicking and birdwatching on the extensive grounds. 

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Casa Navarro 

José Antonio Navarro is often heralded as one of the most influential figures in Texas history. He was one of only two native-born Texans who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. 

His original 1850s adobe and limestone home — Casa Navarro — has been preserved in San Antonio. 

Best Civil War Historical Sites in Texas 

Fort Lancaster Photo Texas Historical Sitesource

After Texas’ battles for independence, the American Civil War and others spilled into Texas, with several notable battle sites. 

These struggles had enormous repercussions for U.S. history, and shockwaves from the events also reverberated worldwide for centuries. It’s fair to say that Texas has been connected to many of the chains of events that helped America become a global superpower. 

Fort Lancaster 

After the Mexican War of 1846-48, the U.S. Army built Fort Lancaster to protect the Lower El Paso-San Antonio Road, an essential step in the expansion into California. Fort Lancaster was the only U.S. Army post in Texas to be attacked by Native Americans. 

Did you know?: Visitors can watch how the military used camels at Fort Lancaster during living history displays. 

Sabine Pass Battleground 

The Lone Star state was an important center for Confederate forces, and Port Arthur was a vital cog in the troop supply lines. 

In 1863, Union soldiers stormed the port at Sabine Pass, which was guarded by just 46 Confederates. The Union forces were repelled, and the Confederates captured more than 350 prisoners during the battle. 

This victory prevented Union soldiers from advancing into Texas’ interior. The Sabine Pass Battleground commemorates the Confederacy’s efforts and also offers reenactments of the event. 

Longhorns at Fort Griffin 

Fort Griffin was founded in Albany to serve as a defensive fort from 1867 to 1881. There were tensions in the area as Native Americans — forced into reservations during the Civil War — returned to their homelands. 

Now in ruins, Fort Griffin had been a place frequented by people like Wyatt Earp, John H. “Doc” Holliday, and “The Poker Queen” Lottie Deno. During the last two weekends in June, locals and musicians perform the Fort Griffin Fandangle, which chronicles the site’s history. 

Did you know?: You can camp, fish, and hike at this living history attraction. There is minimal light pollution, making for excellent stargazing too. 

Buildings as Historical Sites in Texas

Texas State Capitol in Austinsource

Many buildings qualify as historical sites in Texas for everything from beauty to starting points of significant events that shaped history. 

Here are some of the best to visit from across the state of Texas. 

Texas State Capitol in Austin 

The Texas State Capitol is set among 22 acres of parklands. At 308 feet tall, the Capitol impresses and lives up to its reputation as one of the best state legislatures in the United States. 

There are guided tours around this National Historic Landmark and monuments to various military campaigns throughout the grounds. 

Did you know?: Dusk sees up to a million Mexican free-tailed bats flying to and from their perches on the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. 

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park  

The San Antonio Missions Trail consists of four Spanish Missions constructed during Spain’s colonization of Texas. Spanish priests tried to convert Native American tribes to Catholicism at the Missions, and each Mission had its own story. 

The four Missions are each around 2.5 miles apart, and in good weather, it’s nice to rent a bike and cycle between them. The missions are: 

  • Mission Concepcion — the oldest stone mission church in Texas 
  • Mission San Jose — the largest of the four and completely restored 
  • Mission Espada — the first mission built in Texas 
  • Mission San Juan — full of irrigation canals and fields 

Port Isabel Lighthouse 

This small lighthouse, built in 1852, offers excellent views over South Padre Island and insights into Texas’ maritime history. Port Isabel Lighthouse also features a small museum and visitors center in a reconstructed lighthouse keeper’s cottage. 

Victorian Mansion in Galveston 

The Bishop’s Palace is a Victorian-style house in Galveston’s East End Historic District. 

Constructed in 1892 for the Galveston family, this stunning building tells the tale of Galveston’s rise and fall. The Bishop’s Palace, full of historic furniture, maps, and artifacts, is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. 

Did you know?: You can take a self-guided tour of the Bishop’s Palace. 

Fort Leaton, Presidio 

Presidio is famous as a city on the Mexico-Texas border and the access point for the Big Bend Ranch State Park. 

The nearby Fort Leaton showcases Texas’ Spanish heritage, with many original adobe structures surviving. Fort Leaton was originally a trading post along the so-called Chihuahua Trail. 

Attractions include visiting a hacienda, traditional homes, a blacksmith, and a bakery, giving an insight into 19th-century wild frontier lifestyles. 

Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown 

Texas is famous for its energy and Beaumont celebrates the founding of the state’s oil industry at the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown. 

The original rig was built in the late 1890s but didn’t hit oil until 1901. Later, the Spindletop rig was nicknamed the Lucas Gusher. Fortunately, much of the oil field and its machinations have been preserved and visitors can experience what life was like as the oil began to flow. 

Did you know?: There is a reenactment of the first gush of oil at Spindletop Hill. 

More Recent History in Texas 

National Museum of the Pacific War Photo of Airforce Planesource

Texas history continued apace as it zoomed into the 20th century. There are fantastic World War II museums to learn more about recent history as well as museums celebrating the state’s African American heritage. 

National Museum of the Pacific War 

Fredericksburg is home to the National Museum of the Pacific War. Exhibits trace the timeline of the War in the Pacific, which was part of World War II. 

Some events are well-known, such as Pearl Harbor, and others are often difficult to assimilate. One such example is the exhibit of the casing of the Fat Man atomic bomb. This relatively small bomb was used to devastating effect at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, and remains the only time a country has used a nuclear weapon against another. 

There are also many lesser-known yet fascinating stories to explore at the National Museum of the Pacific War, which has 33,000-square-foot of exhibition space. 

Fredericksburg itself also boasts a beautiful replica of a 19th-century German church. 

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Did you know?: The National Museum of the Pacific War was the childhood home of famous Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. 

The USS Lexington, Corpus Christi 

The 20th-century battleship the USS Lexington is moored just a few minutes from the center of Corpus Christi. 

This aircraft carrier is one of the United States’ largest-surviving vessels from World War II and is now a naval museum. Attractions include simulators and games, visits to bridge and crew quarters, and vintage aircraft. 

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George Washington Carver Museum 

In Austin, the George Washington Carver Museum and Genealogy Center aims to preserve African American culture, history, and art. There are galleries, sculptures, and a dance studio. 

Events like Juneteenth commemorate June 19th, the day Galveston’s enslaved people discovered they had been freed under President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. 

Who Is the Most Famous Person From Texas? 

It’s not just history that the Lone Star state does well. Texas counts some of the world’s most renowned and famous people among its citizens. Famous people from Texas include: 

  • Singer Barry White (born in Galveston) 
  • Dwight Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States (Denison) 
  • Actor and comedian Steve Martin (Waco) 
  • Alan Bean, the fourth person to walk on the moon (Wheeler) 
  • Global superstar and singer Beyonce (Houston) 
  • Golfer Jordan Speith (Dallas-Fort Worth) 
  • Opal Lee, Juneteenth activist (Marshall) 

Explore the Best Historical Sites in Texas 

Texas is an enormous state with an equally impressive list of attractions. This list is just a small sampling of what you can enjoy and explore. For a complete list of the historical sites in Texas, visit the Texas Historical Commission. 

We’ve got more for history buffs with a look back at Mexico’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations and the origins of the 4th of July. Once you’ve had your fill of history, come back to the present and enjoy fun in the sun with these summer activities for kids in Texas. 

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