Why this small Texas town is the birthplace of the state's independence movement
In short: Known as the Lexington of Texas, Gonzales holds a pivotal place in history as the site where the first shots of the Texas Revolution were fired. Beyond its revolutionary roots, this city preserves a remarkable collection of Victorian architecture, serving as a living testament to its nineteenth-century prosperity and heritage.
Established in August 1825 by Green DeWitt, the community served as the capital of his colony and represented the westernmost outpost for settlers of European descent beyond the Colorado River. The town's early years were marked by volatility; after two indigenous attacks in 1826, the original settlement was abandoned, only to be rebuilt at its current location in 1827. The city retains its original survey plan, which features a distinctive layout centered around seven public squares.
The town earned its revolutionary reputation in 1835. When Mexican authorities attempted to reclaim a small cannon previously provided to the settlers for defense, the residents refused. A local flag featuring the cannon and the defiant slogan "Come and Take It" was raised, marking the start of the Battle of Gonzales on October 2, 1835. Later, the town famously sent thirty-two men to the Alamo, the only municipality to provide reinforcements, all of whom perished. To prevent the town from falling into enemy hands during the subsequent retreat, General Sam Houston ordered it burned, triggering the mass displacement known as the Runaway Scrape.
Following the revolution, the town experienced significant growth, particularly during the late nineteenth century. This era of wealth, driven by cattle and cotton, left behind an exceptionally high concentration of historic structures. Today, the city is celebrated for its well-preserved downtown and diverse architectural styles, including Queen Anne, Italianate, and Tudor Revival. Master architect James Riely Gordon, known for his work on the 1896 Gonzales County Courthouse, contributed to this aesthetic legacy, which continues to be maintained through preservation efforts like the restoration of the 1885 Old Jail and the 1913 Oak Forest Bridge.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Gonzales, Texas
- Also: Gonzales, Texas | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
- Also: Wikidata — Gonzales · CC0
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