Texas Historical Commission

Often called the “Father of Texas,” Stephen F. Austin played a central role in the region’s early settlement and its path to independence through his leadership and persistence.

Born into a politically engaged family, Austin carried forward his father Moses Austin’s plan to establish an Anglo colony in Texas. After Moses’s death in 1821, Stephen secured approval from the Mexican government and, by 1825, successfully settled the group known as the “Old Three Hundred.”

To support and govern this growing colony, Austin founded San Felipe de Austin in 1823 as its capital. The town quickly became the social, economic, and political center, with a small but diverse population, local businesses, postal routes, and early newspapers. By 1835, it was a प्रमुख commercial hub and hosted important conventions and the provisional government during the Texas Revolution.

After the fall of the Alamo, the town was evacuated and burned during the Runaway Scrape in 1836. Although residents returned and San Felipe was incorporated in 1837, it never regained its former stature; the county seat moved to Bellville in 1846, and much of the original townsite was later donated to the state in 1940.

Visitors today can explore San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site , which includes a townsite and museum that tells the story of early settlers and the early days of the revolution. You’ll find such artifacts as Stephen F. Austin’s field desk and an 1830s printing press.

Plan your visit: visitsanfelipedeaustin.com

Each year, County Historical Commissions across Texas submit reports to the Texas Historical Commission highlighting their most impactful work. One standout story this year comes from the Cherokee County Historical Commission.

When local high school students expressed interest in a cemetery-focused service project, a Cherokee County Historical Commission appointee stepped in to help. She developed hands-on curriculum to teach proper, preservation-minded techniques for cleaning gravestones in a local cemetery.

After securing the necessary permissions, the students began their work forming a deeper connection to local history through the lives represented on each stone. Inspired by the experience, they even presented to their city council to expand the effort and encourage broader community participation. Since then, multiple cleaning sessions have been organized, continuing the work of preserving and honoring local heritage.

Great work to everyone involved in Cherokee County for fostering the next generation of preservationists! 👏

For 50 years, The Seven Dutchmen Orchestra has been a cornerstone of Central Texas music traditions, delighting audiences with polkas, waltzes, big band classics, and country favorites. Formed in 1975 by former members of the New Braunfels High School Polka Band, the group debuted at Bavarian Village on May 24, 1975. The orchestra has played everywhere from small dance halls to major festivals, including every Wurstfest since 1975 and Fredericksburg Oktoberfest since 1984, helping preserve German folk traditions in Texas.

Their history includes memorable moments, like a performance for an audience of cattle when a Seguin auction crowd never arrived. From those humble beginnings to crowds of thousands, the band estimates more than 1,500 performances and over one million attendees. In May 2025, they marked their 50th anniversary with a special performance at Anhalt Hall’s Maifest, celebrating decades of music, friendship, and community across Texas.

The Seven Dutchmen Orchestra are 2025 recipients of a Texas Treasure Business Award, a program that pays tribute to the state’s well-established businesses and their exceptional contributions to communities across Texas. Texas Treasure Business Awards are given quarterly, and the next round of nominations will be processed on August 1.

Learn more about how to submit your local favorite at thc.texas.gov/ttba

Today is National Flag Day. Across Texas, you’ll often see six flags displayed, but the six flags at the San Jacinto Monument stand apart. Rather than the traditional six flags of Texas history, the Monument features six banners that symbolize pivotal moments from the fight for Texas independence: the Come and Take It Flag, Austin’s Flag, Dodson’s Lone Star Flag, the 1824 Flag, the Bloody Arm Flag, and the Liberty Flag.

In November 1835, the provisional Texas government sent Stephen F. Austin to the United States to gather support for the Revolution. While in New Orleans in January, he wrote to Gail Borden proposing a symbolic national flag that reflected Texas’s Anglo-American roots, Mexican ties, and identity through a single star. The design also marked Austin’s shift from advocating reform within Mexico to promoting full independence.

Although the flag was never produced, his original sketch is preserved at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.

Discover more about the stories behind these historic flags on our blog: https://thc.texas.gov/blog/flags-texas-revolution-0