Sam Houston was the first elected President of the Republic of Texas and governor of the newly annexed state on the eve of Civil War. By that time, the highly acclaimed commanding general of the Texas Revolution was not so popular with his constituents. In a secessionist state, he was staunchly in favor of preserving the union.
Opinion turned around with the turn of the 20th century. The legacy of Sam Houston is a fascinating story of state history and politics and is now on display at The Falls on the Colorado Museum in Marble Falls. The temporary exhibit will be up through March 24 in honor of Texas Independence Month. Texas won its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836.
“Sam Houston was a big part of the story of Texas Independence,” museum chair Darlene Oostemeyer said. “This exhibit gives Texans a better understanding of the breadth of Sam Houston’s influence. For non-Texans, who have most likely heard of the historic figure, they will also learn why he became such an icon.”
The road to historic hero hit a rough patch for Houston as the Civil War approached in the mid to late 1800s.
“Bear in mind that all Histories from the Rock of Plymouth, and Jamestown to the present time, have been made by white men, and a man who tells his own story, is always right until the adversary’s tale is told,” Houston said in 1855.
In the early 1900s, a movement began to preserve Houston’s memory and honor his legacy. The Texas legislature established the Sam Houston Memorial Museum in the former Governor’s original homestead. Shortly after, his final home, the Steamboat House, was also restored.
To learn more about the man whose name is affixed to the largest city in Texas, visit The Falls on the Colorado Museum at 2001 Broadway in the Old Granite School building. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Admission is free. For more information visit the website at fallsmuseum.org.
