The fog lifts off the Brazos River. March 2, 1836—that’s when Texas became Texas.
One hundred ninety years later, Texans will gather at the very spot where delegates signed the Declaration of Independence to celebrate that unbroken spirit of self-determination. Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site hosts a two-day celebration marking the 190th anniversary of the Republic’s birth.
“As a proud sixth-generation Texan, born and raised where Texas became Texas, it is an honor to be part of this special 190th anniversary of Texas Independence,” said Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who serves as the keynote speaker.
The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the historic site where Texas formally declared independence from Mexico in 1836. But this celebration stretches beyond Washington County.
San Angelo’s Fort Concho hosts its own Texas Independence Day program. The San Angelo Christian Academy presents a program from 1-2 p.m. on the west end of the Parade Ground—a reminder that the fight for Texas independence wasn’t confined to one location. It spread across the entire territory.
These celebrations matter. They remind Texans that independence isn’t a radical idea—it’s our heritage.
When delegates gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos in 1836, they weren’t asking permission from a distant government. They were exercising the fundamental right of all nations: the right to determine their own destiny. The Texas Declaration of Independence echoes the principles of 1776—namely, that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That same spirit animates the Texas Nationalist Movement today. The fight has changed form—from bullets to ballots—but the goal remains constant: Texans governing Texans.
The 190th anniversary arrives at a critical moment. Texas now has the ninth-largest economy in the world—larger than Russia, Australia, and most nations recognized by the United Nations. We maintain our own power grid. Our own border. Our own distinct culture forged across two centuries.
Yet Texas still sends billions to Washington. We still obey mandates from a federal government that views Austin as a subordinate, not a peer. The relationship hasn’t changed since 1836—we still produce, they still take.
Senator Kolkhorst’s words at the celebration carry deeper meaning this year: “It is an honor to be part of this special 190th anniversary.” The honor isn’t just commemorating history—it’s recognizing that the work remains unfinished.
The Republic of Texas existed for nine years as an independent nation. Today’s movement seeks to restore that status—not through war, but through the ballot. The Texas Independence Referendum Act awaits a vote in the Texas Legislature. If passed, Texans would finally have the chance to decide: remain a subservient state, or reclaim our place among nations.
190 years ago, they chose independence. This anniversary asks the same question.
Washington-on-the-Brazos. Fort Concho. Two locations. One spirit. The celebration continues on Monday.
Comments have moved. The real debate about Texas independence now happens with thousands of Texians in the app.
Get the TEXIAN app
