On May 8, 1846, General Zachary Taylor and his troops defeated a larger Mexican army on this site in the first major battle of the Mexican War. The visitor center does an excellent job of putting the battle into context: were the Americans invaders or defenders?
The 3400-acre site has been preserved from developers (just in the nick of time) and the result is a surprisingly evocative and moody place. It’s easy to imagine the soldiers of both sides toiling in the heat, firing cannons and wondering how they ended up in such a desolate place. (Note the display showing what conservative Texas commentators of the day called Abraham Lincoln – a war and slavery critic – and contrast it to the politics of today.)
The site is near the intersection of FM 1874 (Paredes Line Rd) and FM 511, 5 miles north of Brownsville, 2 miles east of US 77/83 and 3.5 miles south of TX 100, the main road to SPI.
