DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about this place — and friend, this one's got layers. Presidio de Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahía. Fort of Our Lady of Loreto of the Bay.
You might know it by its shorter name — Presidio la Bahía — but don't let the nickname fool you into thinkin' this is a simple story. This is one of the most historic Spanish forts in all of Texas, and the land beneath your feet has been soaked in more history than most places dare to hold. It started on Espiritu Santo Bay — what we now call Lavaca Bay — back in 1722.
Founded there, then moved. Then moved again. By 1749, it finally put down roots right here, established to protect Espiritu Santo Mission, which sits about a quarter mile to the northwest.
And when they settled in that year, they brought with them something that's still here to this day — the statue of Our Lady of Loreto, placed in the chapel in 1749. Same chapel. Still standing.
Now, if these walls could talk, they'd have a lot to say about revolution. Between 1812 and 1820 — that's a turbulent stretch right there — several irregular forces came through. They called them filibustering expeditions, and that word carried a different weight back then.
The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition. Forces led by James Long. Forces led by Henry Perry.
Some came for idealistic reasons, some for profiteering motives. All of them occupied or assailed this fort. The sound of conflict rang through these walls again and again.
But then comes December 20, 1835. Ninety-two Texas citizens and soldiers gathered here, and what they did that day wasn't just bold — it was historic. They drew up and signed Texas' first formal Declaration of Independence.
Right here. Ninety-two signatures on a document that announced to the world that something new was demanding to be born. And the world pushed back hard.
In the War for Texas Independence that followed, Colonel James Fannin and 341 prisoners of war were held within and around this fort. And on Palm Sunday, 1836, they were massacred — Fannin and those 341 men — by their Mexican captors. In and around this very place.
That's not a detail you rush past. That's a weight this ground still carries. Years and years later, between 1963 and 1967, the Kathryn O'Connor Foundation undertook an authentic restoration of this presidio.
And when they dug in — carefully, methodically — they found nine distinct levels of occupancy buried beneath their feet. Nine chapters of human presence, pressed down into the earth one on top of another, each one a story. Today, church services are held in that same chapel where the statue of Our Lady of Loreto has stood since 1749.
The presidio has been named a registered National Historic Landmark. Founded in 1722. Moved twice.
Declarations signed. Massacres endured. Nine levels of people who called this place home or battleground or sacred ground.
That statue in the chapel has watched all of it — and she's still there.
What the marker says
(Fort of Our Lady of Loreto of the Bay) One of the most historic Spanish forts in Texas. Popularly called Presidio la Bahia, it was founded on Espiritu Santo (present Lavaca) Bay in 1722. Twice moved, it was re-established here in 1749 to protect Espiritu Santo Mission (1/4 mi. NW). In the chapel is the statue of Our Lady of Loreto placed here in 1749. The turbulent history of this fort has often rung with the sound of revolution. Between 1812 and 1820 several irregular "filibustering" forces, including the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and others led by James Long and Henry Perry, occupied or assailed the fort for various idealistic and profiteering motives. Here, too, 92 Texas citizens and soldiers drew up and signed Texas' first formal Declaration of Independence on December 20, 1835. In the ensuing War for Texas Independence, Col. James Fannin and 341 prisoners of war were held and, on Palm Sunday, 1836, were massacred in and around the fort by their Mexican captors. When the fort was authentically restored, 1963-67, by the Kathryn O'Connor Foundation, nine "levels of occupancy" were uncovered. Church services are now held in the chapel. The presidio has been named a registered National Historic Landmark. Recorded Teas Historic Landmark--1969