Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park | |
---|---|
Location in Texas | |
Location | Cameron County, Texas, U.S. |
Nearest city | Brownsville, Texas |
Coordinates | 26°1′17″N 97°28′50″W / 26.02139°N 97.48056°W |
Area | 3,357.42 acres (13.5870 km2) 1,039.62 acres (420.72 ha) federal |
Established | November 10, 1915 |
Visitors | 36,707 (in 2012)[1] |
Governing body | National Park Service |
Website | Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park |
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park | |
U.S. National Historic Site | |
Built | 1846 |
NRHP reference No. | 66000812 |
Significant dates | |
Designated NHL | December 19, 1960[2] |
Designated NHP | March 30, 2009 |
Designated NHS | November 19, 1978 |
Delisted NHS | March 30, 2009 |
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park near Brownsville, Texas, United States, is a National Park Service unit which preserves the grounds of the May 8, 1846, Battle of Palo Alto. It was the first major conflict in a border dispute that soon precipitated the Mexican–American War. The United States Army victory here made the invasion of Mexico possible. The historic site portrays the battle and the war, and its causes and consequences, from the perspectives of both the United States and Mexico.
The National Park Service has acquired a little more than a third of the authorized land for the park, including the 300 acres (1.2 km2) southern core battlefield tract, which served as the location for Mexican forces during the Battle of Palo Alto. Private landowners still control some 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of the battlefield.
The park's visitor center features exhibits about the battle and the Mexican–American War, as well as a 15-minute video titled "War on the Rio Grande". A half-mile trail leads to an overlook of the battlefield and includes interpretive panels.
Background
The
While the battle was a clear American victory and casualties were very light, 5 dead and 43 wounded, two of the dead were the resolute commander of Fort Texas, Major Brown, and the innovative artillery officer Major Samuel Ringgold, whose fast and mobile "flying artillery" would continue to be a major advantage to Taylor throughout the campaign.[4]
Administrative history
Palo Alto Battlefield was designated a
On March 30, 2009 the site was redesignated a
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 authorized the addition of Fort Brown (166 acres) to Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park if a study finds it feasible.[6][7]
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cameron County, Texas
References
- ^ "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
- ^ Staff (June 2011). "National Historic Landmarks Program: Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State, Texas" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved January 10, 2018..
- ^ "Palo Alto Battlefield - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov.
- ^ P., SANCHEZ, JOSEPH (15 June 2010). "PALO ALTO, BATTLE OF". tshaonline.org.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ HR 146, section 7113
- ^ "Fort Texas / Fort Brown - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)". National Park Service. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Legislation seeking to add Fort Brown to Palo Alto national park passes House". KVEO-TV. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
External links
- Official NPS website: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
- Palo Alto Battlefield NHL information
- National Park Lover Page: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
- Out ‘N About with Jimmy and George - "The Battle of Palo Alto" from the Texas Archive of the Moving Image