The Zaragoza Birthplace State Historic Park is located adjacent to
Presidio La Bahía
The Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía, known more commonly as Presidio La Bahía, or simply La Bahía is a fort constructed by the Spanish Army that became the nucleus of the modern-day city of Goliad, Texas, United States. The curre ...
in
Goliad State Park and Historic Site
Goliad State Park and Historic Site is a state park located along the San Antonio River on the southern edge of Goliad, Texas. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (#01000258) on March 12, 2001.
Park
The park features ca ...
,
Goliad County in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
. An amphitheater and bronze statue of Ignacio Zaragoza are also on the grounds.
General Zaragoza
Ignacio Zaragoza
Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín (; March 24, 1829September 8, 1862) was a Mexican general and politician. He led the Mexican army of 600 men that defeated 6,500 invading French forces, including the elite French legionnaires at the Battle of Puebla ...
was a hero of the
Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla ( es, Batalla de Puebla; french: Bataille de Puebla) took place on 5 May, Cinco de Mayo, 1862, near Puebla de Zaragoza during the Second French intervention in Mexico. French troops under the command of Charles de Lorencez ...
, which is commemorated each year by
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo ( in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a yearly celebration held on May 5, which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoz ...
celebrations. On May 5, 1862, General Zaragoza and 600 of his forces repelled 6,500 French forces in the city of
Puebla, and prevented a French invasion into Mexico.
The house
Zaragoza was born in
Goliad
Goliad ( ) is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It is known for the 1836 Goliad massacre during the Texas Revolution. It had a population of 1,620 at the 2020 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Gol ...
on this site March 24, 1829. In September 1961, the county of Goliad donated at Zaragoza's birth site, for a memorial in his honor. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reconstructed his birth home on the foundation. Architectural plans were drawn up for the Parks Department by Raiford Stripling of
San Augustine. Stein Lumber Company of
Fredericksburg completed construction December 1974. The birthplace was opened to the public on the 114th anniversary of Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 1976. The site also includes an amphitheater.
A bronze statue to commemorate Zaragoza was donated by the people of Puebla, Mexico and unveiled on September 13, 1980. It is located on the grounds of the birthplace in front of the amphitheater.
Facilities, hours, admission
Goliad State Park is open 7 days a week. Entrance fees apply. The Zaragoza house is located outside the park grounds about one mile south of the entrance to Goliad State Park
. Group tours need to be arranged in advance.
The Texas State Park Store gift shop is located on Goliad park grounds.
Goliad Park facilities also contain restrooms, a museum, and a playground.
See also
*
Museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
*
References
External links
Zaragoza Birthplace State Historic Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaragoza Birthplace
History museums in Texas
Protected areas of Goliad County, Texas
Texas state historic sites
Protected areas established in 1976
Museums in Goliad County, Texas
Birthplaces of individual people
1976 establishments in Texas