Passport to Texas

Remember the Alamo! Reenacting the Battle of San Jacinto

History/Event: The Battle of San Jacinto Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Battle of San Jacinto was a game changer in Texas History. On April 21, 1836, an untrained Texian militia routed General Santa Ana’s troops.

11 – The actual battle lasted less than half an hour; it carried on into the evening with clean up. But the main assault and the main fighting was done in less than half an hour.

Justin Rhodes is Region Four Director for State Parks, which includes the San Jacinto Battlegrounds in LaPorte. On Saturday, April 20th, the historic site celebrates this momentous battle with a reenactment and festival.

16 – If you’re planning on coming out on Saturday the 20th, I would recommend you arrive early when the crowds are low. That will give you plenty of time to visit the festival and get set up for the reenactment. The reenactment will occur only once during the day, and it happens around one o’clock.

Rhodes hopes visitors leave with renewed appreciation for the sacrifices made on the battlefield in 1836.

21—Ultimately we want visitors to take away an appreciation of the significance of the site, the event, the history that brought us to where we are today. So much of what we do today and tomorrow is based on lessons from the past – from the sacrifices that these men and women brought forward. They teach us valuable life lessons moving into the future.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Details at www.texasstateparks.org.

Support provided by Ram Trucks. Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

San Jacinto Battlegrounds

History: The Battle of San Jacinto Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Six weeks after the fall of the Alamo General Sam Houston’s Texas army took only 18 minutes to overpower Santa Ana’s militia, at what is now the San Jacinto Battleground [State Historic Site], and change the face of Texas history. Remember the Alamo was the rallying cry.

20 – San Jacinto is such a special place. It’s where we won our Texas independence. It’s where many scholars will argue that the history for not just Texas, but more so the United States — and even the world — was set with the Texian army winning that battle on April 21, 1836.

Justin Rhodes is the Region Four Director for State Parks, which includes the San Jacinto.

19 – It’s interesting to sit down and talk to other historians and hear the “what ifs.” What if Texas did not win? Where would we be? Where would the United States be? Where would the world be without that victory that day? You know, where the battle occurred is right on – now – the Houston Ship Channel, which is one of the busier ports in the world.

The Texian Army was a rag tag crew of untrained men, battling against Santa Anna’s professional soldiers. Fighting on their home turf to preserve the lives they’d worked to achieve spurred them to victory.

11—Any time someone tries to take something that’s near and dear to your heart, you’re going to have that spirit that flows through to make you fight that much harder. And that was the backbone of the Texian army.

Celebrating the victory at San Jacinto is tomorrow.

That’s our show for today…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Fort Richardson State Historic Site

State Parks: Fort Richardson Anniversary Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Fort Richardson played a vital role settling the Texas frontier. And we celebrate the146th anniversary of this outpost later this month. Our State Park Guide Bryan Frazier has details.

57 – For Richardson from the 1860s to the 1870s was one of the most significant outposts on the Texas frontier. You’re talking about being on the edge or, and in the heart of, Comancheria at the time. So, this particular outpost was responsible for helping ensure the safety of the settlers and the farmers and the ranchers that were there in the area. And it’s the 146th birthday of Ft. Richardson, which is in the city limits of Jacksboro, just north of Interstate 20, about an hour and thirty minutes west of Fort Worth. And they’re going to have all kinds of activities and re-enactors; soldiers from the 1860s and 70s in their full regalia on horseback, and cannons firing. And there will be cavalry, infantry and artillery troops. It’s just a great event. It’s going to be Friday and Saturday – the 12th & 13th of this month – to get out and see the living history event at Fort Richard State park and Historic Site.

Thanks, Bryan.

Find additional information at texasstateparks.org.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

History: Butchering and Curing Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

They’re going whole hog at Barrington Living History Farm. On January 12 & 13 they’ll present a hog butchering and curing program to the public.

05—Butchering is just one part of many things that we do seasonally throughout the year.

Barb King is a park interpreter at the farm, located at Washington-on-the-Brazos SHS. The program takes place outdoors in January just as would have happened in 1850s rural Texas.

15—So, all the meat that will be produced, and the sausage and the fat that we will save for soap or cooking all needs to be at a constant temperature, which is cold—like your fridge. So that we can start the curing process without worrying about it spoiling.

The public will not witness staff dispatch the Ossabaw Island Hog: a heritage breed. After that, Barb says the rest is for public view, which is mostly a demonstration, but…

18—People are able to do a tiny bit if they choose—like helping us scrape the hogs. But cutting up the carcass into specific portions of meat is only done by staff. A lot of people come right at 10, and we normally have a big group waiting. And then on Sunday, we focus on more of the preservation aspect.

Visitors may return Sunday to see how staff cures the meat for storage.

The butchering and curing program at Barrington Living History Farm is January 12 & 13, beginning at 10 a.m. both days. Find complete details at texasstateparks.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Barrington Living History Farm, Image by Rob McCorkle

History: Texas Farm Life 1850s Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Life in rural 1850s Texas wasn’t a charming, simple existence. Eating, for example, was an exercise in long-range planning.

11—One part of being a farmer, not only is growing what you’re going to need to eat today, or tomorrow or the day after. But you’re projecting ahead, maybe six months or a year.

Barb King is a park interpreter at Barrington Living History Farm SHS at Washington-on-the-Brazos. The farm belonged to Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas. Being president didn’t mean Jones was on easy-street.

23—Even for this family, which is upper middle class, they’re still worried about survival on a more intimate basis than we are. You know, just even getting hot water is a chore, not only in hauling, but then you have to heat it up. So, all the daily chores than we have today, and a lot more forethought—as well as just physical labor. Men, women and children—everybody’s working towards family survival.

Dispatching livestock and then curing the meat for use throughout the year was a chore that rural Texas families performed during cold months, because they lacked mechanical refrigeration. This month, visitors to Barrington Living History Farm have an opportunity to witness parts of that process.

02—We get a lot of interest in this event.

And if you’re interested, we’ll have details tomorrow.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.