by Carolyn Henderson
The El Camino Real Texas Master Naturalist took a trip Saturday to a major Texas historical site and got a side of beautiful nature along with it. The tour of Washington on the Brazos was both informative and beautiful.
The Texas Historical Commission has taken over management of the state park and is doing some major renovation on the facilities. The museum manager led the group through a lesson in the most major event in Texas history, and added information on how nature played a role in the events at the site. Sam Houston and delegates from every major city in Texas at the time met there to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. The site was the capitol of Texas for several years, too. Lack of a railroad did it in in favor of Austin.
There is currently an archeological dig that will be made visible to visitors once it’s complete. Several buildings have been reconstructed based on descriptions by visitors there to sign the declaration. The only original structure left from the 1830s is a water well. It was built with stone. The park sits on the Brazos River, which is why it was chosen to be the meeting site. At the time there was a ferry running to the site. There are also some paving bricks left from the original town. Nature took its toll on the main path to the river, and washed it out and away eventually. Another original, and somewhat old structure is still there, too. It is the pillars that marked the entrance to the original park. They are going to serve as the entryway into the archeological dig for visitors.
The grounds, which have grown over the years, have been given over to nature. They are covered in native grasses, wildflowers and trees. The commission has to replant only the state flower – Texas Bluebonnets – because people trample them while taking their pictures in them which disrupts the natural reseeding. All the others manage to come back on their own.
There is a particularly notable Pecan tree on the grounds near the river (see photo above). It is the oldest documented pecan tree in the state of Texas. The delegates met under it during the 17 days it took to get the declaration written and signed. Ironically, it was discovered recently that it is not a native Texas pecan tree. Scientist ran DNA tests on it and discovered it originated in northern Mexico. It is assumed it came with early settlers from Mexico or perhaps missionaries that came up from Mexico sometime well before 1836. It was a pretty good size by then. If you go to the web site for Washington on the Brazos, you can order saplings from the tree. Costs for it are used by the commission to renovate the facilities.
Catherine Johnson, organizer of the trip, organized a picnic under the pavilions to round out the trip. It is a trip worth taking, especially if you take a side trip to Independence, Texas nearby.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 