Texas Independence Day

Texas Independence Day History

Texas Independence Day commemorates their independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. Sixty delegates from all over Texas signed the declaration. The Texas Declaration of Independence and government was announced at a conference on Washington-on-the-Brazos.

On March 6th, 1836, the Alamo fell to Mexican general Antonio López Santa Anna. The fight between the Republic of Texas and the Mexican Army lasted more than one month. On April 21st, 1836, US General Sam Houston successfully defeated Santa Anna. Almost a decade later, a formal ceremony in 1846 would appoint the first governor of the new state of Texas, J. Pinckney Henderson. Texas Independence Day is observed annually on March 2th.

Top 10 Facts for Texas Independence Day in 2026

• The Republic of Texas existed as a fully sovereign and independent nation for nearly a decade before it joined the United States as the 28th state in 1845.
• While 59 delegates were signing the Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos, the legendary siege of the Alamo was simultaneously occurring less than 200 miles away.
• Of the dozens of men who signed the founding document, only two—Jose Antonio Navarro and Jose Francisco Ruiz—were actually native Tejanos born in the territory.
• The original manuscript of the declaration was lost for decades before being discovered in the United States State Department archives in 1896 and eventually returned to the state.
• Texas remains unique among American states for having entered the Union through a negotiated international treaty rather than through standard territorial annexation.
• Every year, the Texas Independence Day Celebration at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site attracts thousands of visitors for live reenactments of the 1836 convention.
• Historical dramas such as the film The Alamo and non-fiction works like Lone Star Rising frequently experience a surge in interest as the public explores the lives of figures like Sam Houston and William B. Travis.
• The first official flag of the new republic was not the famous tri-color banner used today, but rather the Burnet Flag, which featured a single golden star centered on an azure background.
• Modern observances often include the performance of traditional songs such as The Yellow Rose of Texas and Deep in the Heart of Texas to commemorate the state's cultural heritage.
• Although it is an official state holiday, it is classified as a partial staffing holiday, meaning state government offices remain open with a reduced number of employees.

In the News and Trending for Texas Independence Day

Top things to do for Texas Independence Day

• The day is celebrated by festivals that include band music, children’s activities, story-telling sessions about how Texas won Independence from Mexico and became a republic during the 19th century.
• On Saturday and Sunday around the camp there is special guest and entertainment will include Texas A&M University Singing Cadets, wreath laying ceremony at the Children’s Monument, musicians will bring old music, crafts and farmer market.
• The Star of Texas Dulcimers will entertain visitors in the Museum’s theater with performance with American folk music.