Back To:  TEXAS - IMAGES - The FARM - GIFT STORE- MUSEUM -  HOME

E-Mail Us

Submitted by J. Walker 12'04

Texas has had six capital cities:

During the period of the Texas Revolution there was no official capital, and the 'ad interim' government moved from place to place. The government fled from Washington-on-the-Brazos to Harrisburg, and from Harrisburg to Galveston. In Galveston the government was set up on board a ship, the "CAYUGA". After the Battle of San Jacinto the government moved briefly to the battlefield and was then established in Velasco.

The first permanent government of the Republic of Texas was established at Columbia in October, 1836, and remained there for three months. Houston then served as the temporary capital from 1837 until 1840. Austin was selected as the official capital on January 19, 1840. The government, however, was actually located in Houston for a short time in 1842, and in Washington-on-the-Brazos from 1842 until 1844. The government returned to Austin in 1844 and has been located there since that date.

   1. Washington-on-the-Brazos   It was here that on March 1, 1836, delegates elected from each municipality in Texas convened in an unfinished frame building. While the forces of General Santa Anna laid siege to the Alamo, the Convention of 1836 declared Texas' independence from Mexico, wrote a new constitution which established the Republic of Texas and organized an ad interim government.

   2. Harrisburg  / Houston June 5, 1837 - The city gets a city charter from the Congress of the Republic of Texas. It became the provisional capital of Texas. 1839 - The capital of the Republic moves to Austin, Texas. The dispute over where the state records should go would cause a conflict.   Harrisburg is now a part of Houston.

  3. Galveston was declared a port of entry in 1825 by Mexico and a customs house was established.  The city served as capital of the Republic of Texas when President David G Burnett and his cabinet were forced to abandon the interior at the time Sam Houston's forces met and defeated the Mexican Army at San Jacinto April 20 – 21, 1836.

  4. Velasco  After the battle of San Jacinto, President David G. Burnet made the town the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas.  Velasco is also in Brazoria County

  5. West Columbia  West Columbia was chosen by the founders of the Republic of Texas to be the fledgling nation’s First Capitol. Although that designation only lasted a few months, West Columbia and the surrounding area is truly the birthplace of Texas.  West Columbia is also in Brazoria County.