One Cannon, Two Pivotal Dates

The “Come and Take It Cannon” gives Gonzales history a tangible starting point. In 1831, the Mexican government gave the cannon to the settlers in Gonzales to protect them from attacks by Indigenous groups. It is on display at the Gonzales Memorial Museum; on October 2, 1835, it fired the first shot for Texas independence. The museum also commemorates the “Immortal 32,” who fell at the Alamo. Together, a single object and the remembrance of the fallen offer a view of Texas’s independence history.

Memorial Sites and Ways of Telling the Story

A monument clad in Texas gray granite marks the Site of the First Shot of the Texas Revolution near the place where the first shot was fired on October 2, 1835. The monument offers a different emphasis from the cannon in the museum: it marks the remembrance near the historic site, while the weapon itself is on display in the museum. The Gonzales Memorial Museum complex also includes an outdoor amphitheater with 500 seats. Texas Legacy in Lights is an immersive light-and-history presentation at the museum at 414 Smith Street. The monument, exhibit, and light show offer different ways to explore the history of the Revolution.

History Across Different Scales

The historical perspective extends beyond the years of the Revolution. The Gonzales Pioneer Village Living History Center is home to houses and buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries from Gonzales County. The Charles DuBose Rare Gun Collection offers a broader geographic perspective, displaying more than 700 rare and historical pieces from over 41 countries. The Gonzales County Jail Museum focuses on a single historic building: Eugene T. Heiner designed the jail, built in 1885, to hold 200 prisoners during times of unrest. The range of historical subjects thus extends from buildings from two eras to an international collection and the design of a jail.

The grave of Sarah, associated with the “Come and Take It” flag, is located in Green Dewitt Cemetery. This connection takes the historical search from the cannon and the first shot to one person and her grave.

River Routes with Different Profiles

On the Guadalupe River, the Independence Paddling Trail and the Come and Take It Paddling Trail differ in length and format. The Independence Trail is a scenic 2.6-mile loop and is suitable for beginners because no shuttle is required. Trees along the riverbank provide shade, and there are also opportunities for fishing. The Come and Take It Trail is about 11 miles long, runs along the Guadalupe River near Gonzales, and passes the confluence of the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers. For choosing a route, the key details can be compared directly: 2.6 miles as a loop with no shuttle required, or about 11 miles, with the confluence as a feature of the route.

Parks and Recreation

Independence Park offers a 2.35-mile hiking and biking trail, views of the Guadalupe River, and a 9-hole golf course. At Kerr Creek Park, amenities include the relocated historic Oak Forest Bridge and an 18-hole disc golf course. The disc golf course at Kerr Creek Park hosts the annual Gonzo Liberty Battle. Swimming, fishing, and paddling are available at Palmetto State Park. The activities described range from trails and golf to disc golf and water sports.

Market and Event

The Come and Take It Makers Market offers fresh produce, locally sourced meat, handmade goods, and vendors of arts and crafts. The Come and Take It Celebration takes place annually in downtown Gonzales on the first weekend in October. The market showcases food and crafts; the Celebration adds a recurring downtown event to the calendar.

Discover more destinations: Gonzales, Nixon, Jackson County, Tarrant, Harris, Lamb, Atascosa County, Bowie County.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.