La Porte, Texas
3523 Battleground Rd.
GPS coordinates: 29.7502,-95.0814
Take a photo of your rally flag with the above image.

After the defeat at the Battle of the Alamo, the Texan Army retreated from San Antonio and zig-zagged back across Texas towards Houston. General Santa Anna thought he was chasing, but General Sam Houston had another plan. While General Houston was buying time, the citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio donated a pair cannons known as the “Twin Sisters,” to the cause.

It was 45 days after the Battle of the Alamo, in an expanse known as San Jacinto, with the help of the Twin Sisters, some 800 Texan Rangers unleashed all they had against 1400 Mexican soldiers. The Mexican army was caught off guard and the battle lasted only 18 minutes before General Santa Anna fled. He was taken captive the next day and Texas independence was secured. April 21, 1836 became one of the most important days in U.S. history.

The San Jacinto Monument was built 100 years later in 1936 and is still the world’s tallest monument, even surpassing the Washington Monument by 12 feet, and almost twice the height of the Statue of Liberty. The reflecting pool covers more than eight acres. The star on top weighs 220(!) tons. The observation deck at the top gives a commanding view of the battlefield and the battleship USS Texas.

“Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may.” - Gen. Sam Houston

Bonus stop: Head down Hwy. 146 to T-Bone Tom's Restaurant in Kemah, a famous steakhouse and BBQ serving good, honest Texan and Gulf Coast specialties.

Photo by Josh Price.