By: Hegar S.C.R. No. 18
(Kuempel)
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The city of Gonzales has special prominence in the
history of this state as the site of the first battle of the Texas
Revolution, and the town seeks to heighten awareness of the rich
heritage shared by all Texans with a number of museums it has opened
to tell the colorful and inspiring story of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing the significance of the community's
historical attractions, the Gonzales Texas History Museums
Partnership, working in conjunction with city leaders, has
established a history museum district that encompasses the public
lands between and adjacent to Saint Lawrence Street and Saint Louis
Street, extending from Highway 183 to Highway 90; within that area
are 18 sites that help illuminate our state's unique past; and
WHEREAS, Several of the museum district locations
commemorate the events surrounding that fateful day of October 2,
1835, when local residents took up arms against Mexican troops,
firing the first shots in the revolution that would lead to the
independence of Texas; the Gonzales Memorial Museum contains a
mural honoring the brave patriots who took part in the Battle of
Gonzales as well as an artillery piece that some believe to be the
legendary "Come and Take It" cannon that sparked the skirmish; the
limestone museum building is interesting in its own right, having
been constructed in the 1930s to mark the centennial of the Lone
Star State; and
WHEREAS, Nearby is the Eggleston House Museum, a
dogtrot-style log cabin that was built in the 1840s, and the
district also contains numerous other examples of historic
architecture; among them are the Old College, built in 1851, the Old
Jail Museum, which dates to the late 1800s, and the Gonzales County
Courthouse, constructed in the mid-1890s; and
WHEREAS, The Gonzales museum district encompasses a variety
of additional landmarks as well, including the town's seven
downtown squares, churches that first opened their doors at the
turn of the 20th century, and the 1917 Crystal Theatre; and
WHEREAS, These sites have long been enjoyed by visitors to
Gonzales, and the establishment of the museum district is sure to
make the town an even more popular destination in the years ahead;
the community offers a treasure trove of interesting and
informative locations that help explain how Texas was established
and how it has developed into the state we know today, and the
community's role as a center for historical tourism is indeed
deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby designate a portion of the city of Gonzales as an official
Texas History Museum District.