presidio la bahia

Visited here on our Spring Break Texas History Trip and it was well worth it! The historical narrative and the artifacts are very interesting. The chapel is nice and has some surprising history, too. The grounds have some elevated outlooks in the wall that overlook the Mission and the city. Do not forget to check out the Fannin Burial Ground Southeast of the Presidio. The history is tragic, but I'm glad that those who lost there lives are being honored. The flags out front are really interesting, too, because one normally only thinks of six flags flying over Texas. A must see for history minded people, and children will enjoy the grounds, too.

My son is in the fourth grade and is currently studying Texas history. For spring break, he requested to go to Goliad (and Gonzales). So, we reserved two nights at The Quarters at the presidio. It rained like crazy while we were there. We didn't get to roam around the courtyard much due to the weather and the fact that my daughter ended up getting a cold with fever while on our first day. Boo. BUT we were still able to enjoy the museum and the chapel.The museum area isn't very large, but it is very informative with many displayed items. There's a short video that can be viewed that tells the history of the presidio and of Fannin and his men. Don't miss it!The chapel is very peaceful and quite beautiful. There is a sign on the door that asks for visitors to be respectful by being QUIET. Some people don't see the sign, don't think of being reverent, or they just choose to be rude. While we were there, two older ladies and younger girls entered quite loudly. My kids and I just shook our heads in disgust. PLEASE be respectful and keep your voices down!

We enjoy seeing historic sights and this one did not disappoint. The authentic "re-enactor" added to the experience. It was very interesting to read all of the events of the area's past.

It is claimed to be the birthplace of the Texan revolution and where the Goliad massacre took place, so huge significance to all Texans.Restored in the early 60's. Most certainly part of your visit to Goliad.

Very interesting. A slice of 1700 history with the beautiful church still in use. Large attraction with not to many exhibits.

You should visit this place and learn some Texas History hands on. Not a Tourist Trap farce like the Alamo, just a great place to visit and learn.The lady at the desk could not have been nicer and I got some great photographs. Luckily I beat the rush and got clear shots of everything without people in the way.

happened upon this by accident and very glad we did. The church is very nice and still in use, and the presidio is very well preserved. The video at the start is worth watching as it provides context. With the \fanon grave site right near by, it all ties together.

Learning about the local history and battles. Ghosts were not present when we went. Find it interesting that the Alamo receives more press than La Bahia - the massacre was larger.

As a history buff, native Texan and retired Marine Corps Infantry Officer, I have had the privilege to visit many museums and forts of this type in Texas, the Atlantic Coast and abroad. I can attest that this is an extremely nice reconstruction and is superbly maintained. My observations are listed below by functional area. Location. This site is easy to find; I plugged the address into my IPhone and it took me directly there. Parking. The parking lot is not very big; there are only about 18 parking spaces. For visitors driving RVs or pulling travel trailers, it should be fairly easy to access the Presidio; there is a paved road on all four sides that sees very little traffic - it should be permissible to temporarily park on the side of this perimeter road.Admission fee and hours. The entry fee is $4.00; operating hours are 9:00-4:45 daily; however, I would recommend checking with their web site presidiolabahia.org to confirm operating hours and admission fees.Background 1749. The Presidio was constructed by the Spanish to house the military detachment responsible for providing security to the area and the nearby Mission Espiritu Santo. 1821. Mexico gains independence from Spain in 1821. 9 Oct 1835. The Presidio is seized from Mexican forces by the Texian army.23 Feb 1836. The Mexican army under General Santa Ana reaches the Alamo in San Antonio.2 Mar 1836. The Texas Declaration of Independence is signed at Washington on the Brazos.6 Mar 1836. The Alamo falls to Mexican forces; 185 Texian defenders are killed.19-20 Mar 1836. Col James Fannin vacates Presidio La Bahia as it is thought to be untenable with his force against the larger, advancing Mexican force. He is defeated by the Mexican army at the two-day battle of Colleto Creek (approximately 10 miles east of the Presidio). He surrenders his 350-man force to General Jose de Urea thinking he and his men will be humanely treated. Fannin and his men were marched back to the Presidio.27 Mar 1836. Colonel José Nicolás de la Portilla (garrison commander at Goliad), acting on orders from General Santa Ana, executed all members of Fannins force (with the exception of two doctors who could attend to the Mexican wounded).Exhibits/parts of the park.Museum. The museum is housed in the area that was originally the kitchen, dining area and Officer's quarters. It contains quite a few artifacts that were unearthed from the Presidio and Chapel - primarily pottery shards, household implements and tools; they are all catalogued very well. It also contains a very nice 4 ft x 4 ft diorama (miniature model) of the Battle of Colletto Creek.Barracks. The enlisted barracks have been restored and contain approximately 3 rooms that visitors can walk through.Chapel. The Chapel is simple, tasteful and beautiful; it has been used almost continuously since its construction.Length of visit. I would recommend that visitors dedicate two hours to tour all areas of the Presidio and Chapel.Handicap and child access. I am not handicapped but understand that this can affect someone's decision whether or not to visit a site/attraction. Visitors with difficulty walking should be able to access the the museum and chapel with little to no difficulty. I do not have children but I think the Presidio is safe for children; parents should think about whether or not it is appropriate to take children into the Chapel.Amenities/creature comforts. There are restrooms and water fountains in the museum. There is no food available but the town of Goliad is less than a 5-minute drive to the north.Gift shop. There is a limited gift shop at the entrance; they carry a small selection of items: postcards, coffee mugs, several nice art prints, and books.Other attraction nearby #1. The Spanish Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zuñiga is approximately 1 mile to the north on US Highway 183/Texas State Highway 239. It is a very nice reconstruction project by the Civil Conservation Corps. It is located at Goliad State Park.Other attraction nearby #2. The Fannin Battleground (Colleto Creek Battleground) is approximately 11 miles to the east off of US Highway 59 on County Road 2506. There are some outdoor informative placards as well as a very small but very new (the paint still smells fresh) indoor museum.

The renovated Presidio is like looking into the past. The fort is well-maintained and the exhibits are very interesting. You can even stay onsite if you book early for their supposedly haunted former officer quarters. The church is lovely and still holds mass on Sundays.

The history of Goliad is well worth the visit and this site offers a wealth of information of the battle and massacre that took place. The site is well taken care of and the staff is friendly and helpful. This is a must see for anyone who enjoys history.

presidio has been restored based on drawings and measurements made in1836 so it is accurate. It is well maintained and has knowledgeable staff that can direct you to other local sites. good selection of pertinent books for sale.

All Texans should see this place! It's Texas history at its best, albeit probably one of the darkest battles for our Independence. It was beastly hot the day we visited or we would have explored more. Nice exhibits inside.

My 12 yr old son & I stayed one night in June. We set up our video camera & discovered that Humphrey the mouse (who hangs out under the stove) will come out & snag a chip off the floor & literally hop away with it if you leave one out for him. Caught it on camera within 5 minutes. This is really neat place to stay. Sit outside in the courtyard at sunset (bring your own pop-up chairs though). We got responses on our Ovilus III that were consistent with the history there, the words "general", "disaster", "haste", "squeezed" came thru. At 12:47am I captured high-pitch metal creaking type sound that went on for about 20 minutes, off and on, I recorded it. The next morning we determined it was the same sound the iron doorknob makes on the locked up door in the twin-bed room that leads out to the chapel courtyard. If you turn this door knob very slowly, the same sound is heard (creepy). You must see the battlefield and the burial site while you're there. It's very humbling and tragic, but meaningful due to the history of it. The officer quarters were very comfortable, but be prepared for no TV. But, there's enough there to keep you busy. It was really peaceful walking the fort grounds around the walls after sunset. The displays inside the museum on site were very good and informative. The staff were incredibly courteous and helpful too! This is a "must stay" place!

We love history and old buildings this fort is very well kept , museum inside very informative , movie can be watched, the chapel outside is lovely, painting inside beautiful , canons outside.We had a great time.