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The San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site (SHS), operated by the Texas Historical Commission, will host a presentation on the First Republic of Texas Navy as part of the monthly History at Night series. The program will be Thursday night, Dec. 1, beginning at 6 p.m. The visitor center facilities and exhibits will remain open prior to and through the program offering. The First Texas Navy story is both fascinating and largely unknown. Though referred to as the Republic of Texas Navy because of its role in the military campaign that resulted in Texas’ independence from Mexico, the first ships were acquired by the war government operating at San Felipe de Austin between November of 1835 and February of 1836. Acquired prior to the declaration of independence made at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2 of that year, these ships were part of a concerted effort by Texas political leadership to resist perceived government tyranny. Initially, these leaders rejected a call for independence yet committed to what was an emerging civil war in the Republic of Mexico over the organization and philosophy of the national government.
