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| Bastrop Texas |
Bastrop Texas is a fun place to visit and it's filled with history. Stroll around the historic district and take in many of the historic buildings located all around it's downtown area. Explore the unique shops, landmarks and restaurants and you'll feel that you've stepped back in time. We've featured some of these historic sites below and hope you have a chance to visit Bastrop Texas.
Mexican Roots
The year 1804 would have been a period during the last years of Spanish colonization of North America and also prior to the revolution which expelled the Spaniards. Bastrop was laid out in the typical Mexican or Spanish style with a central plaza.
In 1832 after the Mexican government took control of the region, the settlement was renamed Bastrop in honor of Baron de Bastrop who originally obtained a Spanish land grant for the area.. A mere two years later the town was renamed yet again to Mina in honor of Francisco Xavier Mina, a Mexican hero and martyr during the revolution.
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| One of Bastrop's historic old churches |
Bastrop During the Civil War
It's interesting to note that the community of Bastrop voted against secession prior to the Civil War although Texas was aligned with the Confederacy.
The Fowler House in Bastrop which is now on the National Register of Historic Places was used as a military academy before the Civil War. This academy, known as the Bastrop Military Institute, opened in 1857 and trained men to fight for the Confederacy during the war. This house is also referred to as the Allen-Fowler House. When you visit Bastrop Texas the house is located at 1404 Wilson Street.
The Bastrop Opera House
Another interesting stop to make on your tour of Bastrop is the Bastrop Opera House. This historic theater in downtown Bastrop was built during the late 1800's. Essentially all of downtown Bastrop today is an historic district.
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| Bastrop Opera House |
Two Bastrop merchants, P. Otto Elzner and S.D. Green, joined together in 1889 to build the opera house for a cost said to be about $15,000. The design of the opera house was taken directly from the existing opera house in Taylor Texas, about thirty-five miles north of Bastrop. The first public event at the Bastrop Opera House took place on October 1, 1889.
At one point during the early 1900's, after Elzner lost the property, the building was converted into a motion picture theater. This lasted for decades until a non profit took over the structure due to unpaid taxes. After fundraising a plenty of volunteer labor the old building was restored into it's original splendor. The Bastrop Opera House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized by the Texas Historical Commission. The Bastrop Opera House is located at 711 Spring Street.
The Bastrop County Courthouse
If you've explored Texas before you most likely know that the state has some of the finest old courthouses found anywhere and in a variety of architectural styles.
The Bastrop County Courthouse located at 803 Pine Street was constructed over the period 1883 and 1884. It's architecture is Renaissance Revival and it's architects were Jasper N. Preston and F.E. Ruffini.
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| Confederate Memorial on courthouse grounds |
Confederate Monument in Courthouse Square
The area of the Bastrop County Courthouse and it's adjacent buildings is referred to as Courthouse Square.
On the lawn in front of the courthouse you'll view a Confederate memorial. The Bastrop County Confederate Memorial is on the northeast section of Courthouse Square. The memorial is a white marble obelisk that rises on a square base. On the base are carved flags of the Confederacy. Confederate Memorial monuments were erected by the United Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy after the Civil War. Texas has more than fifty Confederate memorials and statues erected.
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| Old Bastrop County Jail Building |
According to the Texas Historical Association, until 1834 Catholicism was the official religion in Texas. This of course was due to the Spanish occupation of the region.
It is a fact however that Baptism was preached in Texas as early as 1820. This particular preacher from Kentucky was ultimately arrested by the government but escaped before being tried in San Antonio. In 1834, not long before the Texas Revolution, the Mexican government did give Texans religious freedom.
The First Baptist Church in Bastrop was organized in 1850 by an elder from the Austin Texas church. Members at first met once a month. During the Civil War years the church suffered and membership was scattered. By the 1880's after the Reconstruction years, church membership was growing quite a bit.A frame structure was then built at the corner of Pecan and Chestnut Streets. In 1929 a new structure was built at the corner of Water and Farm Streets. It is on this property that the present church was constructed.
Additional Western Trips articles of Texas you'll find interesting are on the links below...
The Historic Driskill Hotel in Austin
Missions in San Antonio
The Nimitz National Museum / Fredericksburg
The West Texas Town and the White Buffalo
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| Bastrop County Courthouse clock tower |
A visit to Bastrop Texas is a trip into history. It's a step back to the early days of Texas. In addition to this, Bastrop is near to so many other historic sites and towns that it makes a great companion trip to other interesting areas. Bastrop is only thirty miles east of Austin Texas with such historic landmarks as the Driskill Hotel and the Texas State Capitol Building.
San Antonio and it's beautiful missions plus the popular Riverwalk is only about 80 miles south of Austin along Interstate 35. West of Austin and northwest of San Antonio is the heart of the Texas Hill Country with such attractions as Fredericksburg and it's Nimitz Museum of the Pacific. All of these towns and landmarks are a big part of early Texas history and make fine additions to any Texas trip planner.
(Article and photos copyright 2013 Western Trips)
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