National Historic Landmark

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site

Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000812

About this property

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park in Brownsville, Texas, United States, is a National Park Service unit which preserves the grounds of the May 8, 1846, Battle of Palo Alto. It was the first major conflict in a border dispute that soon precipitated the Mexican–American War. The United States Army victory here made the invasion of Mexico possible. The historic site portrays the battle and the war, and its causes and consequences, from the perspectives of both the United States and Mexico. The National Park Service has acquired a little more than a third of the authorized land for the park, including the 300 acres (1.2 km2) southern core battlefield tract, which served as the location for Mexican forces during the Battle of Palo Alto. Private landowners still control some 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of the battlefield. Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), although a native plant, is present in an unusually high concentration, altering the cultural landscape and threatening the natural and cultural resources at the park. The park's visitor center features exhibits about the battle and the Mexican–American War, as well as a 15-minute video titled "War on the Rio Grande". A half-mile trail leads to an overlook of the battlefield and includes interpretive panels.

Location

Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas
26.02245, -97.44383

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Resaca de la Palma Battlefield
Listed
6.4 mi
McNair House
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7.9 mi
Garcia, M.E. and Estela Cueto, House
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8.2 mi
Hicks-Gregg House
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8.5 mi
Essey, Lillian and George K. Aziz, House
Industrial
8.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Palmito Ranch Texas
1865Civil War
1.3 mi
Battle of Palo Alto – Artillery Duel Phase
1846Mexican-American War
2.3 mi
Battle of Palo Alto
1846Mexican-American War
2.3 mi
Mexican-American War — Battle of Resaca de la Palma 1846
1846Early Republic
3.4 mi
Palmetto Ranch
1865Civil War
3.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site listed on the National Register?

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site?

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site?

The period of significance for Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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