SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 760
WHEREAS, The 300th anniversary of the founding of San
Antonio is being commemorated in 2018; and
WHEREAS, San Antonio's roots can be traced back to an
encampment known by local indigenous people as Yanaguana, which
meant "the clear water" in their native language; in the late
1600s, Spanish explorers traveled through the area and gave it
the name San Antonio de Padua; the site, located halfway between
northern Mexico and Spanish settlements in East Texas, was
subsequently chosen by Spanish authorities for the establishment
of a permanent community; and
WHEREAS, On May 1, 1718, Martín de Alarcón, the governor of
Coahuila y Tejas, and Fray Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares
founded Mission San Antonio de Valero west of San Pedro Springs;
moved several times before its present site was chosen in 1724,
the mission would later become a fortress known as the Alamo; on
May 5, 1718, the Spaniards also established a garrison, the
Presidio San Antonio de Béjar, to protect the new mission, and
the soldiers' families composed a rudimentary civilian
settlement; four other missions were planted in the area over the
next decade and a half, and when a group of Canary Islanders
arrived in 1731, the civilian settlement was organized as a
villa, San Fernando de Béjar; the only town in Texas to enjoy
municipal status during Spanish rule, San Fernando became the
capital of Texas in 1773; following the Texas Revolution, San
Antonio, as the town was now called, was chartered as the seat of
Bexar County; and
WHEREAS, With the advent of the city's 300th anniversary in
2018, the San Antonio Tricentennial Celebration Commission has
partnered with hundreds of local organizations to plan a year of
festivities that emphasize history and education, community
service, and arts and culture, all culminating in a week of
commemorative events; and
WHEREAS, For three centuries, the Alamo City has played a
central role in the story of the Lone Star State, and it is a
pleasure to join its residents in celebrating this notable
milestone as they continue to build an even brighter future; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
Legislature, hereby commemorate the 300th anniversary of the
founding of San Antonio and extend to its citizens sincere best
wishes for a memorable and meaningful tricentennial celebration;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
the City of San Antonio as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Menéndez, Campbell
Uresti, Zaffirini
____________________________________________________________
Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate
____________________________________________________________
Member, Texas Senate Member, Texas Senate
______________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 10, 2017.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate