As we take a look back through the past year, here are our most popular blog posts published in 2018.

Almost forgotten by generations of Texans, the 1813 Battle of Medina was the fierce and bloody climax of the first Texas war for independence. The battle—which took place in modern-day Atascosa County—pitted Tejanos with their American Indian and Anglo-American allies against an overwhelming Royalist Spanish army.

Some historians have noted it was not only one of the largest land battles fought west of the Mississippi River, but that the size of the Spanish army exceeded that of the Mexican army that attacked the Alamo in 1836.

Atascosa County residents and local historians have long recognized the battle as an important part of their history. Since 2000, an annual event has been held to commemorate the battle, and in 2005 an Official Texas Historical Marker was placed to honor the battle’s history.

Shipwrecks on Texas beaches and intertidal areas are rare, and often only emerge as storms scour and remove sand, thus revealing these relics for modern observation and study. Storm events in recent years have exposed several historic shipwrecks along the Texas coast.

Historic accounts report that dynamic weather and currents along the South Texas coast contributed to the loss of vessels. Such events may also lead to their rediscovery. Recent storms have exposed two shipwreck sites on the South Texas coast, resulting in ongoing THC investigations.

African American History Month is a meaningful time to explore the real places and real stories of the Texans of African descent who greatly influenced the development of the Lone Star State through numerous political, economic, and cultural contributions.

Many significant African American historic sites are located in or around Texas’ larger cities, providing easy access for a lot of people.

Our Fulton Mansion State Historic Site—one of the Texas Historical Commission’s 22 historic sites and rated first on the list of things to see in Rockport-Fulton—suffered significant damage during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

The hurricane completely destroyed the flat metal roof and chimneys and left major water damage to interior collections, carpets, and plaster walls.

Thanks to several generous donations, restoration of the iconic home progressed, and on March 10 the Fulton Mansion re-opened for self-guided hard hat tours.