The San Jacinto Monument honors the victory of Sam Houston and his band of Texian soldiers over General Santa Ana and the Mexican Army in 1836, leading to Texas independence. It's a nice urban park dominated by the San Jacinto Monument and located on the site of the 1836 battle.
Things I saw....
The monument was built in the 1930's for the 100th anniversary celebration of Texas independence. I really liked the architecture from that era, and the surrounding area (the battlefield) is great for short walks. Being located along the ship channel, you can also see a variety of water birds and nature, if you're so inclined. However, this being Texas, the park sits in the middle of several oil refineries, creating a rather unusual skyline.
The base of the monument contains a nice museum of Texas history. The summit of the monument gives an outstanding view of downtown Houston, the Houston Ship Channel, and the battleship Texas. True to Texans' nature, the monument stands just a few feet higher than the Washington monument. The reflecting pool along one side of the monument is great for early morning reflection shots (for the calm conditions required). The park also has plenty of great picnic areas and lots of space to wander around the battlefield, tracing the path of Sam Houston's troops.
Things I missed....
Each April, there's a reenactment of the Battle of San Jacinto. It's a great spectacle that draws thousands of people. In addition to the reenactment, there are games, food and lots of fun for the family. Great for people watching, history, photography and best of all, it's free! This year, the reenactment is on Saturday, April 16. Don't miss it like I did.
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