Fort Anahuac
Also known as: 41 Ch 226
Why it's listed
Fort Anahuac is an archeological site about one mile south of Anahuac, Texas, on the edge of a terrace above the Trinity River delta and Trinity Bay. Mexico built it in 1830 as a small fort and customs house, using about 160 soldiers under Col. Juan Davis Bradburn. Its brick walls were more than seven feet thick, and it was armed with two 18-pound pivot guns. Settlers resented the fort's customs enforcement, its restrictions on immigration, and the labor and materials Bradburn demanded. Conflict followed, and prominent Texans including Patrick C. Jack and William B. Travis were held there. The fort is credited with several firsts of the Texas Revolution, including the Turtle Bayou Resolutions and early armed clashes. Today only foundations survive, mostly below ground. Local residents mined the bricks for about 150 years, and a 1960s excavation disturbed part of the site. A 1977 magnetometer survey found anomalies that may mark other features. The site lies within a county park.
Significance in brief: The site holds rare archeological evidence of the brief Mexican Republic period of Texas history, since it was built and abandoned within that period. It is also described as the scene of the first serious agitation and armed conflict of the Texas Revolution, and has been called the "Birthplace of the Texas Revolution."
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 81000626, listed July 1, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | TX 564, Anahuac |
|---|---|
| County | Chambers County |
| Listed | July 1, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000626 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1830-1836 (?) |
| Architect / builder | Republic of Mexico |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Military, Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now a county park with historical markers; only brick wall foundations remain, mostly underground, and the site is described as heavily disturbed by brick mining and earlier excavations. The form's classification marks it as unoccupied. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 29.75679, -94.68818 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 81000626.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q49490405
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.