After discovering in 1988 that he was a direct descendant of the Angel of Goliad, the speaker spent more than three decades conducting in-depth research to uncover her true identity and life story. That work culminated in his recent book on Francisca Alvarez, following years of writing and historical storytelling, including works inspired by Texas history. His research and findings have been presented across Texas at historic sites, genealogical societies, and cultural organizations, including Presidio La Bahía with support from the Texas Historical Commission. This lecture, “The Mystery of the Angel of Goliad – Francisca Alvarez,” explores how modern research tools finally revealed the woman behind the legend. Attendees will learn how Francisca, abducted as a toddler and unaware of her true name during the Texas Revolution, played a critical role in saving more than 100 soldiers. The presentation examines primary sources, battle locations, her relationships with Native communities and key historical figures, the discovery of her real name through her son’s records, and her final resting place at King Ranch, bringing clarity and humanity to one of Texas history’s most enduring mysteries.

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Talk 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Q&A: 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Reception: 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Location: San Jacinto Museum

The presentation will provide a brief review of the role of Tejanos in the founding of Texas and their legacy in the legal and cultural institutions that distinguish Texas historically from other states of Mexico and the U.S. It will provide a summary of Tejanos involved in the Texas Revolution from the Battle of Medina in 1813, the Battle of Béxar, the Alamo, and the Battle of San Jacinto. The discussion will conclude with a historical narrative of the experience of Tejanos in politics, government, and the economy of Texas during and after the Republic of Texas.

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Talk 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Q&A: 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Reception: 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Location: San Jacinto Museum

Tejanas were the backbone of Spanish Texas society. Their roles in their families and in their communities have been obscured by archival evidence that focuses on government and public institutions. Yet, glimpses of the women’s experiences appear in the documents as well as artifacts and family histories. Life in early Texas was tough, and women persisted through hardship and violence. The Texas Revolution was no exception as Tejanas experienced the Siege of Béxar and the Alamo as well as the changes brought with independence and then incorporation into the United States. Through all of the tumult, Tejanas persisted, maintained their family stories, and contributed to the culture and economy of Texas. This presentation will offer insights into the experiences of Tejanas before, during, and after Texas independence focusing on broad patterns as well as telling individual stories of remarkable women.

Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Talk: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Q&A: 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Reception: 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Location: San Jacinto Museum

This presentation seeks to shed light on a question that has long preoccupied historians of the state: what were the motives of those who took up arms against Mexico during the Revolution? In deciding upon a course of action, Haynes argues, Anglo-Texans looked to the past, drawing upon their memories of the “Spirit of 1776” to make sense of the political crisis with Mexico City and as template for revolutionary action.

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Talk: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Q&A: 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Reception: 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Location: San Jacinto Museum

The victory of the Texian Army on the plain of San Jacinto in April 1836 was built on many factors, including the leadership of Sam Houston, the grim determination of his troops, and the vagaries of weather that brought the two armies together. But there was another factor that shaped the victory, one that wasn’t anywhere near San Jacinto that day: the officers and crews of the Texian Navy. This presentation will follow step-by-step how captures of Mexican ships by the Texian Navy helped simultaneously to provide for Houston’s army and deny Santa Anna the supplies his soldados desperately needed.

Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024

Time: 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. | talk 5:00 6:00, Q&A 6:00 6:30, reception 6:30 7:00

Location: San Jacinto Museum

Cost: $5 per person/$3 per museum member; students are free.

Buy your tickets online.

 Join us for a presentation by Sally Anne Schmidt and Eron Tynes on the early history of the San Jacinto Battleground, the site of one of the most significant battles in the Western Hemisphere. The movement to designate the San Jacinto Battleground as a patriotic shrine began in 1856 when a group of Texas veterans gathered at the site and initiated a fund for a memorial monument. The San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was established in 1891, with the immediate goal of acquiring and marking the Battlegrounds of San Jacinto, where the Republic of Texas was born. For years, members of the San Jacinto Chapter collaborated with the State Legislature to secure the necessary land, leading to the establishment of Texas's first State Park in 1907. During this period, chapter members worked alongside Texas veterans to mark key historic sites of the battle with granite markers. As the 100th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto approached, plans to build a monument honoring all Texas heroes gained momentum. Under the leadership of Jesse Jones, significant improvements were made to the park for the Texas Centennial, with the continued influence and involvement of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Time: 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. | talk 5:00 6:00, Q&A 6:00 6:30, reception 6:30 7:00

Location: San Jacinto Museum

Cost: $5 per person/$3 per museum member; students are free.

Buy your tickets online.

San Jacinto: The Experience of Battle with Dr. Stephen Hardin Military historians often fall into the trap of looking at the battle from the birds-eye view of the commanders. After all, they are the ones making the decisions and often leaving the most detailed accounts. However, this perspective ignores the experience of the rank-and-file soldiers on the ground. In San Jacinto: The Experience of Battle, renowned Texan historian Stephen Hardin uses countless first-hand accounts of the Battle of San Jacinto to examine the Texian soldier's experience of battle. 

Houston is rarely cited in the same breath as New York, Miami or Los Angeles when it comes to Art Deco. But the city boasts many gorgeous examples of the Jazz Age style, including the San Jacinto Monument, as the result of a conscious effort by Bayou City leaders to shape a new image in the 1920s and ‘30s. Join us on Saturday, February 18 for an illustrated lecture by Jim Parsons, co-author of Houston Deco: Modernistic Architecture of the Texas Coast, about notable Deco buildings in Houston and the surrounding region, showcasing the design and craftsmanship that still captivate us today.