San Jacinto Monument and Museum
LA Porte, TX 77571-9773
Phone: (281) 479-2421
- Hours:
- Mon-Sun 9am-6pm
Editorial Review for San Jacinto Monument and Museum – by Paul Jennings
The Background
Marking the spot where an unruly army of Texans commanded by Sam Houston overwhelmed a superior Mexican force on April 21, 1836, the San Jacinto Monument rivals the Alamo as the most celebrated site in Texas history. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest monument column in the world (it's 12 feet taller than the Washington Monument), the 567-foot tower was built of reinforced concrete and faced with Texas shell limestone. Completed in 1939, the tower is widely recognized as one of the best remaining examples of Moderne architecture in the United States.
The Experience
Visitors' facilities at the monument include exhibits on Texas history, a multimedia presentation on the battle, and an observation platform at the top of the tower. The surrounding 1,000-acre park features picnic areas and historical markers that allow battlefield enthusiasts to retrace the steps of the opposing forces.
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Insider Tips
The ExtrasVisitors can ride a 489-foot elevator to the observation floor for unparalled views of the daytime skyline and the Houston Ship Channel. Cost is $3 for adults and $2 for children.
Know Before You GoBattleship Texas, a World War I and II vessel restored as a historic attraction, is moored nearby.
User Reviews for San Jacinto Monument and Museum
10/05/2006 Posted by evilwes
The Battlegrounds is one of the best kept secrets in the area; with its beautiful picnic grounds, large Spanish moss covered trees, and the monument museum you cant go wrong for an entry fee of $1 per adult (13+) and children free (12 and under). Bring a bike out and ride back into history as you stop and read the sight markers scattered throughout the 1,200 acre park. Or follow Park Road 1836 to the East side where the picnic grounds look out over the Houston Ship Channel and you can see the 146 suspension bridge going to Baytown in the distance. The park is a great place to find a bit of solitude 9am 6pm daily except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Monument Museum (open same hours as the Battlegrounds) has a lot of interesting artifacts and information about the Texan and Mexican armies and comes at no additional cost but if you want to ride the elevator to the top it will cost an additional $4 for adults and $3 for children. Be sure to bring insect spray, but if you do forget they sell insect repellant wipes at the Monument Gift Shop for around $1.50 a piece but they work wonders (trust me, on my last trip I HAD to use them).
Pros: Wonderful for history nuts, great for kids, an absolute must for a picnic.
Cons: Mosquitoes abound, can get crowded on weekends.
03/28/2004 Posted by beaverclea
I just went to this monument with my girlfriend and it's really interesting that not many people know about this place or go to it. The place seemed pretty desolate with only a bus load of school kids and a handful of visitors. You can ride to the top of the monument on a 50 year old elevator. The top has a great view; you can actually see Downtown Houston in the distance, but nearby it's really sad - all petroleum and chemical plants. At the base there is a free one room museum, fairly interesting but out of date. Across the reflection pool sits U.S.S. Texas (I believe) also not a frequently visited place. You can get the feeling that both places don't pull in that many visitors, but still a landmark, and for $3 you can ride to the top of it.
Pros: not crowded, inexpensive
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