Texas Independence Day

March 2 is Independence Day in Texas. This marks the day in 1836 when the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington-on-Brazos, a small town about halfway between presentday Austin and Houston.

At the time the Declaration was signed, Texan freedom fighters were under seige by the Mexican army under General Santa Anna at the Alamo in San Antonio. Although they would be defeated in that battle, by the end of April, the Mexican army was beaten and Texas was an independent country. It would stay that way for over ten years.

The day is a state holiday in Texas and commemorated by parades (particularly the large one in Austin, pictured above), festivals, and a re-enactment at Washington-on-Brazos, now a state park.

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