Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Location	Cameron County, Texas, USA
Nearest city	Brownsville, TX
Coordinates	26°1′17″N 97°28′50″W
Area	3,357.42 acres (1,358.70 ha) 1,039.62 acres (420.72 ha) federal
Established	November 10, 1978
Visitors	29,913 (in 2005)
Governing body	National Park Service

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park near Brownsville, Texas preserves the grounds of the May 8, 1846, Battle of Palo Alto. It was the first major conflict in a border dispute that soon precipitated the Mexican-American War. The United States Army victory here made the invasion of Mexico possible. The historic site portrays the battle and the war, and its causes and consequences, from the perspectives of both the United States and Mexico.

Palo Alto Battlegrounds Today

The National Park Service has acquired a little more than a third of the authorized land for the park, including the 300 acres (1.2 km²) southern core battlefield tract, which served as the location for Mexican forces during the Battle of Palo Alto. Private landowners still control some 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of the battlefield. Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), although a native plant, is present in an unusually high concentration, altering the cultural landscape and threatening the natural and cultural resources at the park.

Battle of Palo Alto historical marker

The park's visitor center features exhibits about the battle and the Mexican-American War, as well as a 15 minute video titled "War on the Rio Grande". A 1/2 mile trail leads to an overlook of the battlefield and includes interpretive panels.

Administrative history

Palo Alto Battlefield was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960. It became Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site on November 10, 1978, with a boundary change authorized on June 23, 1992. On March 30, 2009 the site was redesignated a National Historical Park, and the park was expanded to include the Resaca de la Palma Battlefield, which is a separate 34 acres inside the Brownsville city limits.

References

• The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.

External links

• Official NPS website: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
• Palo Alto Battlefield NHL information
• National Park Lover Page: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park