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El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail & Brazos County Crossroads
El Camino Real de los Tejas
los Tejas People settle in a place for l de lp p a reason – and begin its Real history. The reason may h d i d d bl mino R have dried up and blown away but not the history Cam away,
history. Rick Vanderpool, photographer El C
Brazos County Commissioner’s Court Re: OSR/El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail April 14, 2009 Good morning. Judge Sims, Honorable County Commissioners This presentation
is for the purpose of respectfully requesting: Brazos County to participate in developing OSR/El Camino Real de los Tejas as a National Historic Trail by partnering with the cities
of Bryan and College Station, National Park Service, TAMU and TxDOT. Brazos County can anchor the Brazos Valley Region as Nacogdoches has anchored the eastern area of OSR, and take a
leading role if it so desires. Also asking that $10,000.00 be budgeted for the 2009/2010 year toward development of OSR in our county as part of a National Historic Trail system in
Texas. These funds will be used toward a National Park Service matching grant of $30,000, with funds from several entities including hopefully the cities of Bryan and College Station,
TAMU and TxDOT. Relative to a location for development in Brazos County: Currently the main site selected for an interpretive wayside is at Rye School Loop on land owned by College Station,
situated in the Bryan ETJ. It has been dubbed a ‘rare jewel’ by the National Park Service because of the unobstructed view of the prairie — the same view seen by travelers 300 years
ago. No cell phone towers, no huge electrical‐line towers, no water towers — just clear blue sky and a coveted expanse of prairie grasses. Amazingly it also contains a swale (or ruts)
several feet long paralleling OSR before it curves to the north along Rye School Loop. Shocking us all; however, the Navasota Swales, a second recently discovered site, turns out to
also be a prime place to develop. It contains a set of swales which some believe to be the longest in the state. If that is so, it could immediately throw Brazos County into the national
spotlight in heritage tourism advertising. The thing today is – we won’t know until more research is conducted. We have a diamond in the ruff. Only we don’t yet know how big the diamond
will be. The two two sites will complement each other and are both valuable historic and archaeological finds. Visions at Rye School Loop are to develop an open area similar to Providence
Church historic site near Easterwood Airport which TxDOT built in 2007. No buildings are planned. The National Park Service suggests also using signs to connect counties along all the
trail routes, and to tell the history of the area, in our case — the Brazos Valley.
Cost and scope of signage down OSR for interpreting the story could range from a minimal number of locations, or include several, for example: 1. Brazos River 2. Site where Zebulon Pike
camped in 1807 3. Rye School Loop, its history, settlers, terrain, springs, etc. 4. Rye School Loop swale 5. Fort Tenoxtitlan ca 1820s 6. Staggers Point ca 1829 7. Benchley (Hwy 6) crossroads
to Calvert 1860s 8. Navasota River At this time, the project is planned to cover two years in two phases: Phase I (1st year) for research and planning Phase II (2nd year) for construction
and development Phase I research prior to development could include, but not be limited to: Factual documentation of each of above historic sites for interpretive signs Magnetometer
search of the site Range ecology: grasses, brush, flowers Soil survey Water: locating local springs and crossing points Settlements Archaeological investigations Design and layout The
site will need to be cleaned slightly, but very carefully, in order to preserve the existing swales and other artifacts which might be found.
Prior to today, the process has undergone several steps: 1. Request to the NPS: December 2008 2. NPS accepts and inspects property. Site visit: January 13, 2009 3. Cost Share Grant application
for matching funds: March/April 2009 4. Research, Planning and Development: April 2009 –March 2010 5. A coordinating Planning Group has met in February, March, April May I say the significance
of OSR, our northern county border, cannot be over‐estimated. Throughout 300 years of history, it has carried: Republic of Texas escapees during the Run‐away Scrape in 1836 Settlers
of Stephen F. Austin’s colony in 1820/21 including Richard Carter Gutierrez‐Magee Expedition soldiers to retake Texas from Spain in 1813 Missionaries travelling from Spain (Mexico)
to Louisiana and Los Adaes 1716 Explorers from the 1690s Indians guiding the explorers, following animal trails We therefore consider OSR to be of great historical importance, 300
years ago and today. Developing it would benefit Brazos County on two levels: 1. By bringing Heritage Tourism, a new industry to the Brazos Valley, and creating jobs. 2. By bringing
more people to book more overnight motel rooms, spend more money here and perhaps buy property to join us in building a thriving Brazos Valley. Bryan/College Station holds the central
point on OSR between San Antonio and Louisiana and is a perfect stopping‐off, spend‐the‐night place from which to tour the area and surrounding counties. Instead of staying one or two
nights to see a football game, we would like to attract heritage tourism travelers to stay one or two weeks. We would like to emphasize that joining this project is entirely voluntary.
One part of the county might want to participate in development of a site in their area. Another segment of the county may choose not to join in. The National Park Service will work
with whoever requests their help and will not press any land owner to develop unless the land owner requests and instigates the process. No landowner will be bothered or their land infringed
upon in any way by the Park Service and/or others in the process. Thank you for your time in hearing our requests and we hope your reply will be positive. Barbara Donalson Althaus ▪
Brazos County Historical Commission 2101 Hillside, Bryan, TX 77802 ▪ 979‐260‐2951 althaus@txcyber.com
Tejas by any other name… A road los Tey y y •El Camino Real de los Tejas l de l •The King’s Highway •Old San Antonio Road Real •Old Spanish Road mino R •OSR El Cam
l de los Tejas Purpose: Real Partnerships mino Rp Anchors Cam Funds El C
Trail Partnerships Partnering with: National Park Service City of Bryan City of College Station TAMU TxDOT Area Heritage Organizations
Trail Anchors Brazos Valley Region of El Camino Real/OSR just as Nacogdoches has anchored the eastern area of OSR
Trail Funds $10,000 budgeted for FY10 toward development of El Camino Real/OSR as part of National Historic Trail system in Texas To be applied to matching grant of $30,000 with
funds from several area entities, hopefully, including the cities of Bryan and College Station
Real de los Tejas Sites: mino R Rye School Swales Cam Navasota Swales El C
First site “Rare Jewel” Jewel Rye Loop Swales on OSR Land owned by City of College Station in Bryan ETJ Unobstructed view of the prairie grasses & clear blue sky
Second site “Diamond in the Ro gh” Rough” Navasota Swales of Brazos County Longest swales in the state
Tejas Vision: l de los Te Rye School Real El Camino R
Vision: Rye School Loop Open area similar to Providence Church historic site No buildings planned at this time
Vision: OSR Signage Signage To connect the trail to other counties To tell the story of Brazos Valley Cost and scope could range from few to several signs
Vision: Points of Interest Brazos River Zebulon Pike campsite, 1807 Rye School Loop – history, settlers, terrain, springs Rye School Loop Swale Fort Tenoxtitlan, ca. 1820
Staggers Point, ca. 1829 Benchley (Hwy. 6) crossroads to Calvert, ca. 1860 Navasota River
Phase I: First Year Research and planning p g Factual documentation of interpretive signage Magnetometer search of the site Range ecology: grasses, brush and flowers Soil
survey Water: local springs and crossing points Settlements Archaeological investigations Design and layout Site preparation with emphasis on preservation
Phase II: Second Year Construction and development
los Tejas Process: Real de l Process mino R Significance Cam Benefit El C
Process so far: Request for consideration: December 2008 Process, NPS accepts & inspects property: January 13, 2009 Cost Share Grant application for matching funds: March -April,
2009 Research, planning & development: April 2009-March 2010 Planning group has met in February, March and April
Significance: 300 Years Northern county border Republic of Texas escapees during Run-away Scrape 1836 Settlers of Stephen F. Austin’s colony in 1820-21 including Richard Carter
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition soldiers retake Texas from Spain in 1813 Missionaries traveling from Spain (Mexico) to Louisiana and Los Adaes in 1716 Explorers from the 1690s
Indians guiding the explorers, following animal trails
Benefit: Bringing Heritage Tourism, a new industry to the Brazos Valley, thereby creating jobs Bringing visitors to: Book overnight motel rooms Enjoy our restaurants Perhaps
even buy property B/CS is the central point on OSR between San Antonio and Louisiana
los Tejas Assurance El Camino Real de l
Assurance: Joining the project is voluntary NPS will work with interested parties NPS will not press any landowner to develop NPS will not infringe on any land without permission
In Closing: Happy Trails to You!
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail & Brazos County Crossroads