The decisive battle in Texas's fight for independence from Mexico was fought 177 years ago today, on April 21, 1836. Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's forces were decisively routed during the 18-minute-long battle in the coastal plains just south of present-day Houston, and the victorious conclusion for the Texans would have profound repercussions on the current border of the United States and Mexico. You can read more about it here:
Battle of San Jacinto
Not being a native Texan, I didn't hear the great founding stories and creation myths of Texas during my youth, but Texans will be happy to tell you all about these stories if you just stop and wait for a while among the bluebonnets and longhorn cattle. The history of the Battle of San Jacinto is full of both exciting narrative (Sam Houston's rallying cry of "Remember the Alamo!") and myth (the story of Emily Morgan, which probably didn't really happen but inspired the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas" anyway). Over the years oil refineries and chemical plants have sprouted like dandelions in the Harris County lowlands, and it's hard to tell where the battle was fought today. Ever helpful to tourists, the Texans saw fit to erect a 570 foot monument near the battle site, which might be the world's largest historical marker. My only experience there was in the thick of Houston summer, the air sweltering with humidity and alive with mosquitoes. If you visit, I suggest picking a month other than July.
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