The Potomac and the Brazos

Guest Column by Lois Kolkhorst Texas State Representative

 

Americans hold a special place for Independence Day each July 4th. Fireworks, barbecues and picnics are in our DNA.

 

If you’re a Texan, you have the unique opportunity and honor of celebrating your independence twice. Along with the national Independence Day, we also have Texas Independence Day every March 2. Of course, it’s not quite the spectacle of July 4th, but our Texas Independence Day is an official state holiday and an annual reminder of what makes this such a special place to live.

 

Much like the American founding fathers had broken away from the kingdom of Great Britain, another brave and bold statement was made here in Texas in 1836. Just as 1776 had ushered in the American dream, those brave souls who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence not only broke away from Mexico, but they gave birth to the miracle that today we call Texas. 

 

The similarities don’t stop there. The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed in a town that would come to be known as Washington- on-the-Brazos, a tip of the hat to Washington-on-the-Potomac. Located between Brenham and Navasota off State Highway 105, the area is today officially known as Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Spanning almost 300 acres, it is home not only to Independence Hall where the delegates convened in 1836, but there is also the Barrington Living History Farm and the Star of the Republic Museum for visitors to learn more about life in early Texas.