San Jacinto Battle Complex

Fifty-two days after the fall of The Alamo in 1836, Texas took its revenge. Lulling the army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna into a sense of security, the Texans, commanded by Sam Houston, turned on them here, at Buffalo Bayou, and wiped out Mexico's claim to the land.

After The Alamo, Houston retreated steadily to the east for several weeks. While his outnumbered troops grumbled, Houston knew his only hope was to stretch out the supply line of his pursuers and make them vulnerable to a surprise assault. As he neared the Gulf coast, Houston suddenly turned and beat Santa Anna to this point on the bayou. After an artillery duel, Houston sent a force to destroy nearby bridges, then settled in and waited. At the mid-day siesta, he attacked. Entirely surprised by the assault, Santa Anna's troops were routed, with almost half of the army of 1,400 killed. Only eight Texans died in the fighting

Santa Anna was captured the following day and signed documents of surrender that secured independence for Texas. The day of the battle, April 21, has been observed in Texas as a holiday, San Jacinto Day, ever since. The battlefield is marked with a 570-foot high granite shaft, opened in 1939, which commands an exceptional view of the entire Houston area. A museum at its base features exhibits on Texas history, from early Native American civilizations to the Civil War.