Spanish Texas During the American Revolution: Life and Legacy, 1775–1783 Opens at The Heritage Society

HOUSTON — The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park opens its newest America250 exhibition today: Spanish Texas During the American Revolution: Life and Legacy, 1775–1783, a traveling exhibition that reframes the American Revolution through the experiences of Tejanos and Spanish settlers. The exhibit is produced by the Mexican American Museum of Texas in partnership with Dr. Tim Seiter, professor, historian, and author.

Covering the years 1775 to 1783, the exhibition highlights Spanish Texas communities stretching from the Sabine to the Nueces Rivers, including San Antonio, La Bahía, Los Adaes and Nacogdoches. Organizers say the goal is to broaden public understanding of the Revolution as a continental conflict shaped by diverse communities far beyond the thirteen colonies.

The Heritage Society will host an official Grand Opening Reception on September 16, launching Hispanic Heritage Month that is open to the public. Beginning in September, the museum will also present a Lunch & Learn speaker series every third Thursday of the month, featuring scholars who will explore daily life in Spanish Texas — from foodways and medicine to courtship, leisure, frontier justice and the region’s relationships with Native nations. Additional talks will examine Tejano support for Spanish military campaigns, including the donativos — donations made by residents to aid Spanish Colonel Bernardo de Gálvez’s efforts against the British. Research shows Spanish Texans contributed nearly 1,700 pesos, equivalent to about 340 head of cattle.

To expand community access, The Heritage Society will host free family museum days tied to major cultural celebrations:

  • Following Fiestas Patrias Parade on Saturday, September 19

  • During the Día de los Muertos parade and festival on Saturday, November 7.

These days will include bilingual interpretation, genealogical tracing sessions, and children’s activities at the Duncan General Store and at Sam Houston Park.

Executive Director Alison Bell said the exhibition builds directly on the museum’s summer presentation of The American Revolution Experience, part of the American Battlefield Trust and Daughters of the American Revolution initiative.

“This exhibition is a natural continuum of our America250 work,” Bell said. “The American Revolution Experience introduced visitors to the many communities who shaped the fight for independence, and Spanish Texas During the American Revolution: Life and Legacy, 1775–1783 shows how the territories of New Spain helped sustain that effort 250 years ago. It gives us a deeper, more accurate understanding of how global alliances — including the people of Spanish Texas — aided a soon‑to‑be‑freed America.”

Bell added that the exhibition’s centerpiece — a life‑sized bull representing the cattle drives that supplied Spanish forces — is already drawing attention. “We may have to gently remind children that it’s not a super-sized pinata or mechanical bull,” she said with a laugh. “It’s a teaching tool that shows how vital cattle were to the Revolution, but I can already tell it’s going to be a fan favorite.”

The exhibition includes bilingual panels, replica objects and primary sources, along with descendant stories connecting historical figures to present‑day families. Organizers say the goal is to highlight the diversity of the Hispano community and expand the public’s understanding of the Revolution as a shared, multi‑ethnic struggle.

The exhibition will travel across Texas for eight years, mirroring the duration of the Revolutionary War.

The project is supported by sponsors including Houston City Council Member Twila Carter and Humanities Texas, whose funding helps bring the exhibition and its related educational programs to communities across the state.

The Heritage Society’s museum gallery is open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is $5, with free access on designated community days.  Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.  For more information, see www.heritagesociety.org/spanish-texas-exhibit.

About the Mexican American Museum of Texas

The Mexican American Museum of Texas was founded in 2022 and is based in Dallas. It is the mission of TMAMT to preserve and exhibit the Mexican American experience from all regions of Texas - Our History-Our Voices. The museum develops statewide partnerships, traveling exhibitions and educational programs that highlight underrepresented narratives in Texas history. Its leadership and curatorial team work closely with scholars, descendants and community organizations to ensure historical accuracy, cultural authenticity and broad public access to Mexican American heritage. 

About The Heritage Society

The Heritage Society, a 501(c)(3) organization, tells the stories of Houston and Texas through collections, exhibits, educational programs and the arts. Founded in 1954 to save the 1847 Kellum‑Noble House from demolition, the organization has since preserved nine additional historic buildings, relocating them to Sam Houston Park and restoring them to reflect their eras. These 10 structures, along with the museum gallery, house more than 23,000 artifacts documenting life in Houston from the early 1800s to the mid‑1900s. For more information, contact info@heritagesociety.org or visit www.heritagesociety.org.