Texas Revolution: The Alamo to San Jacinto

The revolution began over a small cannon that the colonists of Gonzales would not give up. Within two days up to 140 Texians had gathered in the town, all "determined not to give up the cannon". The fight came near Gonzales on 2 October 1835, under a flag bearing the words "Come and Take It", and it is considered the start of the Texas Revolution. The Gonzales Memorial Museum displays the Come and Take It cannon.

Location precision: The fighting took place near Gonzales; the pin marks the Gonzales Memorial Museum, where a cannon from the fight is shown.

Visitor guidance: The Gonzales Memorial Museum displays the Come and Take It cannon.

On 23 February 1836 about 1,500 Mexican soldiers marched into San Antonio de Béxar. Inside the old mission, command of the Texian garrison passed to Travis, the highest-ranking regular army officer there. After a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under General Santa Anna reclaimed the Alamo on 6 March. Today the Alamo is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can tour the chapel and the Long Barracks, which holds a small museum.

Visitor guidance: Visitors may tour the chapel and the Long Barracks museum in central San Antonio.

While the Alamo was under siege, delegates met at Washington-on-the-Brazos for the Convention of 1836. A committee delivered its draft within "a mere 24 hours", and on 2 March the declaration was approved with no debate. It states that Texas "is, and of right ought to be, a free sovereign and independent republic". The state historic site has a replica of the building where the delegates met, Barrington Living History Farm and the Star of the Republic Museum.

Visitor guidance: A state historic site off State Highway 105 between Brenham and Navasota.

Texian captives were held as prisoners at Presidio La Bahía, which Fannin had renamed Fort Defiance. On Palm Sunday, 27 March 1836, between 425 and 445 of them were marched out, believing they would be freed soon. Instead they were executed outside the presidio walls, an event known as the Goliad massacre. Directly next to the presidio stands the Fannin Memorial Monument, which commemorates the massacre.

Visitor guidance: The presidio is in Goliad; the Fannin Memorial Monument is directly adjacent.

On 21 April 1836 the final and decisive battle of the revolution was fought here. The Texian Twin Sisters cannon fired at 4:30, and the Texians charged yelling "Remember the Alamo! Remember La Bahia (Goliad)!". Within 18 minutes the Mexican soldiers had abandoned their camp and fled for their lives. Santa Anna was captured the next day. The battleground is a state historic site, dominated by the San Jacinto Monument.

Visitor guidance: The San Jacinto Museum is inside the base of the San Jacinto Monument.