By George Slaughter
The Sea of Mud exhibit has been extended to Sunday. Photo courtesy San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site Museum
Retreating Mexican soldiers left some things behind after their 1836 defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto. Today those artifacts, found in more recent archaeological digs, are part of a special exhibit that has been extended to Sunday at the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site Museum.
The Mexican retreat became known as the “Sea of Mud” as it plodded through rain-soaked fields in Wharton County. In the 1990s, local pediatrician Dr. Gregg Dimmick became involved in the dig and wrote a book, “Sea of Mud,” that the Texas State Historical Association published in 2004, that describes the retreat and the archaeological findings.
The artifacts were donated to Texas A&M University over a decade ago and are now on exhibit at the museum. Thanks to both popular response and the Texas A&M Libraries, the exhibit has been extended until Sunday.
The 10,000-square-foot interpretative museum opened in April 2018, across from the site of San Felipe de Austin, which served as the headquarters town of Stephen F. Austin’s Colony in Mexican Texas. Austin ran his land office at the townsite, assisting mostly American settlers with grant claims offered by the Mexican government.
A flaming shell insignia from a Mexican Army uniform. Photo courtesy San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site Museum
The museum shows and shares the story of Stephen F. Austin and the settlers he brought to Texas, which in 1823 was a part of Mexico. It includes exhibits and a replica log cabin to help visitors better understand the people, the events, and the place. Additional markers behind the building illustrate key points in the townsite.
The historic site is approximately 15-20 miles west of Katy off of I-10. To reach the site, take the 723 Exit and go north on FM 1458 until reaching 2nd Street. Turn right on 2nd Street, and the museum is on the left.
For more information, call 979-885-2181 or visit the website at visitsanfelipedeaustin.com.