Washington-on-the-Brazos Photo |
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Washington-on-the-Brazos photo - picture in Washington, Washington County, Texas
This village - site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence and first capital of the Republic of Texas - begain in 1822 as a ferry crossing. Here the historic La Bahia Road (now Ferry Street) spanned the Brazos River.
In 1834 a townsite was laid out and named, probably for Washington, Georgia, home of a leading settler.
In 1835, as political differences with Mexico led toward war, the General Council (the insurgent Texas Government) met in the town. Enterprising citizens then promoted the place as a site for the Convention of 1836 and, as a Bonus, provided a free meeting hall. Thus Texas' Declaration of Independence came to be signed in an unfinished building owned by a gunsmith.
The provisional government of the Republic was also organized in Washington, but was removed, March 17, as news of the advancing Mexican Army caused a general panic throughout the region. The townspeople fled too on March 20, 1836, in the Runaway Scrape.
After the Texan victory at San Jacinto, the town thrived for a period. It was again Capital of Texas, 1842 to 1845; and became center of Washington State Park, 1916. It now contains historic buildings and Barrington, home of Anson Jones, the last President of Texas. (1969) |
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| See the Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Marker page.
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Last updated: Jan 10 2021 13:07:10 |
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Latitude & Longitude:
30° 19' 29.422704",
-96° 9' 13.437936"
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