On March 27th and 28th The Crossroads of Texas Living History Association and Presidio La Bahia will stage a reenactment of the occupation of the fort by Col. Fannin and the Goliad Massacre of Col. Fannin and his men at Presidio La Bahia in Goliad, Texas. This annual event has been held for the past 25 years and has been of great interest to the public. Last year's admissions exceeded 4,500. Many schools send their students, girl and boy scouts come on field trips and parents bring their children so that all can experience this unique reenactment of Texas history.

During the day Saturday battles will take place around the fort. There will be the sounds of muskets and cannons discharging and the air will be full of black powder smoke. The costumes worn will be those from that period in history. Visitors will have the opportunity to ask the re-enactors about the roles the they are reliving as well as attend lectures in the 231 year old Our Lady of Loreto Chapel.

In the evening candlelight tours will be conducted through the barracks, the Mexican officer's quarters and there will be a hospital scene in the chapel where the Texian prisoners are being held.

Sunday the death march will begin inside the presidio and goes to one of the locations where the massacre actually took place. The program will conclude with a Memorial Service that begins in the chapel followed by a procession to the Fannin Memorial.

Daily admission is $4.00 for ages 12 thru 59, $3.50 for 60 and older, and $1.00 for ages 6 thru 11 years old. Five and younger are free. There is an additional $2.00 per person fee for admission to the candlelight tour.

For more information call 361-645-3752 or visit our website at presidiolabahia.org.

SATURDAY, March 27th:

9:00 GATES OPEN
10:00 1ST SKIRMISH
10:30 LIVING HISTORY AT CAMPSITES
10:30 CALVARY PRESENTATION AT AMPHITHEATER
11:00 LECTURE IN CHAPEL
12:00 SHOWING OF VIDEO "PRESIDIO LA BAHIA AND ITS PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF TEXAS" IN CHAPEL
1:30 2ND SKIRMISH
2:00 LIVING HISTORY AT CAMPSITES
2:15 LECTURE IN CHAPEL
3:00 BATTLE OF COLETO CREEK
3:30 LIVING HISTORY AT CAMPSITES
5:00 GATES CLOSE
7:00-9:00 CANDLELIGHT TOUR - ENTER AT SOUTH GATE

SUNDAY, March 28th

9:00 - GATES OPEN
9:30 - ISAAC HAMILTON - A PRISONER BY DENNIS REIDESEL
10:00 - DEATH MARCH FROM CHAPEL TO ACTUAL MASSACRE SITE

Followed by: ISAAC HAMILTON - A SURVIVOR BY DENNIS REIDESEL

Followed by: EXECUTION OF FANNIN AND THE WOUNDED TEXIANS

Followed by: MEMORIAL SERVICE STARTS IN CHAPEL FOLLOWED BY A PROCESSION TO THE FANNIN MONUMENT FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEMORAL SERVICE.

and welcome to Presidio La Bahia.  Presidio La Bahía is located one mile south of Goliad, Texas on U.S. Highway 183 (77A).  Presidio La Bahia was established at this location in 1749, with Mission Espíritu Santo.  It has been owned by the Catholic Church since 1853 and is currently operated by the Catholic Diocese of Victoria, Texas.

During the mid-1960s, the Kathryn Stoner O'Connor Foundation funded a restoration project under the direction of architect Raiford Stripling and archeologist Roland Beard.  The fort was rebuilt to its 1836 appearance, based on documents and archeological evidence dating from the Texas Revolution.  Presidio La Bahía was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967. 

One present significance of the Presidio is that it and the two missions constitute the only surviving example of a Spanish Colonial mission/presidio complex in Texas and one of very few in North America.  The preservation of this relationship greatly enhances the visitors' understanding of the partnership between the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church in colonizing the New World.

The Presidio chapel still serves as a community church.  Visitors may tour the grounds and chapel and visit the Presidio's museum, which contains exhibits and cases of artifacts.  The most popular annual event at the site is the Goliad Massacre Living History Program, a two-day reenactment of the battle of Coleto Creek and the subsequent execution of Colonel James W. Fannin and his troops.

Our Lady of Loreto Chapel at Presidio La Bahia has served the spiritual needs of Catholics - Spanish, Mexican, Texas, American, in turn - since 1779. Even today, mass services are held every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at the Our Lady of Loreto Chapel.

Near the Presidio is the Fannin Memorial Monument. After the defeat of the Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto, as General Rusk and the Texas army was following the Mexican army out of Texas, when they arrived at Goliad, they gathered up the remains of Fannin and his men and buried them at a site to the southeast of Presidio La Bahia.

It took over 100 years for the State of Texas to erect a lasting monument to Colonel Fannin and his men. Funds were appropriated as part of the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936. The monument was erected and dedicated in 1938, and placed directly over the grave of the Goliad garrison. The monument, which is in fact a gravestone, contains the known names of the Goliad men and those killed at the battle of Coleto Creek on March 19, 1836. The relief carving show the Goddess of Liberty lifting a fallen soldier in chains.

Click HERE for a Timeline of major events at Presidio La Bahia.