Being a relative newcomer to Texas, I don’t know much Texas history. (Except The Alamo. I remember The Alamo.) Visiting The Old Stone Fort on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University* filled in some on the gaps. And Wikipedia added some more details. We were in Nacogdoches (home of SFA) for college baseball games featuring one of our grandsons.
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- Map shows roads in the territory. Gil Y’Barbo built at the corner of the old San Antonio Road and Calle de Norte using iron ore.
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- In the foreground is Y’bardo’s sword and scabbard. In the back those of Louis Durst, a later owner.
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- Rifle of Thomas Rusk, another later owner. The building went through many owners and uses.
The Texas State Historical Association has a more detailed history.
Random facts uncovered:
- Nacogdoches is the oldest city in Texas.
- The French and Spanish disagreed on the location of the border between their territories.
- An early capital of Texas is now in Louisiana.
- Nacogdoches existed under nine flags, not just the six of Texas.
- The current old fort is built using the same stones as the original which was torn down in 1902.
- A precursor battle to the fight for Texas independence occurred in Nacogdoches.
- My wife cannot pronounce “Nacogdoches.”
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*You’re forgiven if you haven’t heard of SFA. It’s one of 226 colleges and universities in Texas. Grok says that about 110 of them have baseball programs.