TexasEscapes.com HOME Welcome to Texas Escapes
A magazine written by Texas
Custom Search
NEW : : TEXAS TOWNS : : GHOST TOWNS : : COUNTIES : : TOPICS : : HISTORY/OPINION : : ARCHITECTURE : : IMAGES : : ARCHIVE : : SITE MAP

Gonzales County TX
Gonzales County

Gonzales Hotels

Texas | Architecture | Museums

The Gonzales Memorial Museum
Gonzales, Texas

by Jack Teagarden
TX - gonzales Memorial Museum
The Gonzales Memorial Museum
Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2009
The Memorial was built for the Texas Centennial in 1836, and would make a matched set, if it were placed next to the San Jacinto Monument. Complete with its own reflecting pool and block accents of the same oolitic limestone, the structure resembles a modern dog-trot cabin, with the exhibits conveniently separated by gender appeal. On the right are MANLY things: arrowheads, fossils, frontier firearms, and captured weapons from the Two World Wars. Sometimes it makes one wonder if wars are fought just to fill our museums. The jewel in the crown of course, is the "Come and Take It" cannon. One can actually lay ones sweaty palms on it and can see that the muzzle is as large as a half-dollar. Also included is a replica, which only slightly resembles the real thing. There are three! German machine guns that Gonzalan Soldiers Came and Took, although it is doubtful the Germans issued an invitation, on a flag or otherwise. These resemble the ones Gary Cooper took out in Sergeant York. 
Gonzales Texas museum interior showing "Come and Take It" cannon
The "Come And Take It" Cannon
in displayed in the museum

Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2007
Gonzales Memorial Museum, Texas
The Gonzales Memorial Museum
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2007
Gonzales Memorial Museum Monument TX
Gonzales Memorial Museum Monument
Photo courtesy Sarah Reveley, 2007
Gonzales Memorial Museum Historic Marker TX
Gonzales Memorial Museum and Amphitheatre historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2009
TX - gonzales Memorial Museum
Gonzales Memorial Museum and Amphitheatre
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2009
The restrooms are clean and this is a good time to give a donation for the upkeep of the building. Donations can be placed in the ammunition box outside the restroom. Nothing makes one feel like one's participating as parting with a few dollars. 

The other side has things that traditionally appeal more to women, although we put ourselves at risk, saying such things. China, glassware, old dresses modeled by circa 1975 mannequins, and baby clothes from the nineteenth century could well appeal to modern boys, but we doubt it. The air conditioning also works better on this side. 
1936 style murals decorate both sides and show that this was once a library.

Make sure this is one of your stops. Tuesday through Saturday 10-12 and 1-5. Sundays 1-5.

Summer, 1999
Gonzales Memorial Museum - old postcard
Old postcard
See Gonzales, Texas
More
Texas Museums | Texas Centennial

Related Topics:

Texas Architecture | Texas People | Texas History | Texas Towns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXAS:

TEXAS COUNTIES



TEXAS REGIONS

  • Central Texas - North
  • Central Texas - South
  • East Texas
  • West Texas
  • South Texas
  • Texas Hill Country
  • Texas Panhandle
  • Texas Gulf Coast

    Texas Towns A - Z


    Texas Ghost Towns


    Texas Architecture


    Texas Topics


    Texas History


    Columns - History/Opinion

  • All Texas Towns :
    Gulf Gulf Coast East East Texas North Central North Central Woutn Central South Panhandle Panhandle
    South South Texas Hill Hill Country West West Texas Ghost Ghost Towns counties COUNTIES

    TEXAS ESCAPES CONTENTS
    HOME | TEXAS ESCAPES ONLINE MAGAZINE | SEARCH SITE
    TEXAS TOWNS A-Z | TEXAS GHOST TOWNS A-Z | TEXAS COUNTIES

    Texas Hill Country | East Texas | Central Texas North | Central Texas South | West Texas | Texas Panhandle | South Texas | Texas Gulf Coast
    TRIPS | STATES PARKS | RIVERS | LAKES | DRIVES | FORTS | MAPS

    Texas Attractions
    TEXAS TOPICS
    People | Ghosts | Historic Trees | Cemeteries | Small Town Sagas | WWII | History | Texas Centennial | Black History | Art | Music | Animals | Books | Food
    COLUMNS : History, Humor, Topical and Opinion

    TEXAS ARCHITECTURE | IMAGES
    Courthouses | Jails | Churches | Gas Stations | Schoolhouses | Bridges | Theaters | Monuments/Statues | Depots | Water Towers | Post Offices | Grain Elevators | Lodges | Museums | Rooms with a Past | Gargoyles | Cornerstones | Pitted Dates | Stores | Banks | Drive-by Architecture | Signs | Ghost Signs | Old Neon | Murals | Then & Now
    Vintage Photos

    USA | MEXICO | HOTELS

    Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Contributors | Staff | Contact TE
    Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes LLC. All Rights Reserved