Gonzales, Texas is a historic town on the Independence Trail. Not only did it have the Jail Museum and the Gonzales Food Market, it also had beautiful homes and an interesting museum.
Be still my heart! Isn’t this the most gorgeous courthouse! The red brick with white limestone trim was built in 1896. It is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places as well as being designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. It is something to see.
Gonzales was well organized for tourist. In our packet were directions for a walking tour of historic Gonzales as well as a brochure about a driving tour of historic Gonzales. (They even had an app to download.) Honestly, they had great signs for us to follow, and we enjoyed seeing the historic homes.
Getting pictures while on a driving tour can be somewhat challenging, but I wanted to give you a sampling of what can be seen.
Wow! How magnificent. I love the second story veranda.
Looks like the courthouse with the red brick and white trim.
This Mobil station could be in a movie.
Look at this. The house is L-shaped. It is built on an angle. I am sure there is a reason.
This is what I call a “stately” home. So gorgeous!
I seriously want this side porch. I made Ever-Lovin’ drive by this home twice just so I could look at this porch.
The Gonzales Memorial Museum was built in 1936-1937 with funds allocated by the Texas Centennial Celebration and the Works Programs Administration (W.P.A.). The Memorial Museum commemorates the Immortal 32 who died in the Alamo.
The Lone Star Gate at the entrance to the museum caught my eye.
Inside the museum is supposedly the “Come and Take It” cannon that fired the first shot for Texas independence on October 2, 1835. The way I understand it is – at this confrontation with the Mexican Army, they were basically fighting over the cannon. The townspeople of Gonzales refused to give their cannon back to the Mexican Army. The ladies in the town stitched together a flag showing a black replica of the cannon on a white background with the words “Come and take it.” In 1936 (Texas Centennial) this cannon was uncovered after a flood. Because it was found in the area where the cannon would have been many folks believe it is the “Come and Take It” cannon. The State Historical Association disputes this claim. Read HERE to get the whole story. As I understand it, the phrase “Come and Take It” was heard throughout the fight for independence.
Other exhibits in the museum were provided by local people, and they are interesting.
One home I wanted to see in Gonzales was the Eggleston House. My grandmother named all of her twelve children with one name that began with E. Her last son was James Eggleston. We always thought it funny that by the twelfth child she had to resort to the name Eggleston. I had never heard that name. Well, in Gonzales, Texas there is this dog-run style hand-hewn log cabin called (drum roll please) – The Eggleston House. Maybe my grandmother knew someone named Eggleston. I will never know.
Gonzales is an interesting little town to visit. There are several reasons to stop by if you get a chance.
Blessings to you and yours,