Washington Events

SAVE THE DATE because the Texas Independence Day Celebration is back! After two years of exciting renovations to the historic site, we are happy to announce that our annual Texas Independence Day Celebration has returned with a bit of a change in schedule. Celebrate the 190th anniversary of Texas Independence with three events in one weekend!
Echoes of Independence: A Lantern Tour (Tickets required) 6pm-9pm
The echoes of Texas Independence can still be heard in the town of Washington 190 years later. On this candlelit, lantern tour you will witness historic scenes surrounding the creation of a new nation! Meet David Crockett during his stay in Washington on his way to the Alamo. Speak with George C. Childress as he works on the Declaration of Independence. Watch the growing friendship of Lorenzo de Zavala and William Fairfax Gray and experience the drama and chaos of the Runaway Scrape. See all of this among the wonderful night time backdrop of the newly created Washington Townsite Experience. (Ticket information available at www.wheretexasbecametexas.org)

SAVE THE DATE because the Texas Independence Day Celebration is back! After two years of exciting renovations to the historic site, we are happy to announce that our annual Texas Independence Day Celebration has returned with a bit of a change in schedule. Celebrate the 190th anniversary of Texas Independence with three events in one weekend!
February 27 Homeschool Day
Explore, learn, and have fun at our Homeschool day from 9am-1pm. Check out an interactive Timeline of the Texas Revolution in the newly created Washington Townsite Experience. Enjoy amazing new exhibits and activities at the Star of the Republic Museum and make a trip to Barrington Living History Farm for awesome historical performances and living history programs!

190 years ago, in February 1836, the town of Washington was preparing for the most important meeting in Texas History, the Convention of 1836. 59 delegates from across Texas would soon be descending upon the town, and carpenter Samuel Heath was hard at work. He had been contracted to repair Independence Hall, and build furniture, namely chairs and benches for the delegates. Join us as we build a staked leg bench and fix some chairs in the Heath’s Carpentry Shop! For more information contact Tynan Shadle at tynan.shadle@thc.texas.gov, or at 936-878-2214 ext. 224.

Join us as we commemorate the 180th anniversary of Texas Statehood. On February 19, 1846, Anson Jones lowered the Texas flag and raised the American flag, signifying the end of the Republic of Texas. While this event happened in Austin, the groundwork for Texas’ Annexation happened while Washington was the Capital. We will have our own American flag raising in front of Hatfield’s Exchange, and readings of Anson Jones’ speech at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. For more information please contact Tynan Shadle at tynan.shadle@thc.texas.gov or at 936-878-2214 ext 224.

On February 1st, 1836, an election was held Texas wide to elect delegates to attend the Convention of 1836 at Washington. The men elected to this convention would declare independence from Mexico and write the Constitution for the Republic of Texas. Join us as we recreate the election that happened in Washington Municipality. After learning about the candidates, cast your vote, and place it in our ballot box. The votes will be tallied at the end of the day and posted on our Facebook page to compare to the actual election results. For more information contact Tynan Shadle at tynan.shadle@thc.texas.gov or 936-878-2214 ext 224.

In late January 1836, the Tennessee Mounted Volunteers under William Harrison’s command arrived in Washington on their way to San Antonio and the Alamo. Among them was the famed frontiersman and former congressman, David Crockett. Join us January 24, as reenactors portray Crockett and the Tennessee Mounted Volunteers and their stay in Washington. Wade Dillon will portray Crockett and will be offering autographs of Crockett’s signature throughout the day. For more information, please contact Tynan Shadle at 936-878-2214 ext 224, or at tynan.shadle@thc.texas.gov.