San Jacinto Monument and Museum

The monument at San Jacinto was erected to commemorate the centennial of the battle of 1836, in which the Texans under Sam Houston (900 men) emerged victorious against the numerically slightly-superior forces (1200 men) of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The decisive battle won Texas its independence, and its annexation by the U.S. led to the Mexican War of 1846-1848, resulting in the acquisition by the U.S. of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Nevada, Colorado and Utah (brochure), or about a quarter of its current territory.

At 570 feet high, the San Jacinto monument is the tallest masonry structure in the world (the Washington Monument in D.C. is 555 feet). Near the top of the monument, 480 feet high, is an observation deck that offers a bird's eye view of the battleground and surrounding area, including the U.S.S. Texas/Battleship Texas museum, houston ship channel, reflecting pool, Buffalo Bayou and San Jacinto River.

This visit to San Jacinto, about 30 minutes from Houston, complements the visit at the Alamo in San Antonio.

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Travel & Events

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• San
• Jacinto
• Monument
• Museum
• Texas
• Houston