The first San Jacinto Festival was in 1953 when the First Capitol Study Club voted to sponsor a festival that would publicize the history that took place in Columbia and Brazoria County.  The first festival offered historical tours, a tea at Varner Hogg Plantation and a pageant dealing with the early life in Brazoria County, Texas. 

 

"Song of the Brazos" written by Nixie Rogers was the pageant presented in 1953 and 1954.  Other pageants given in the early years were the "Pride of Anne Thomas" and "Bright Star" (the life of Stephen F. Austin) written by Louannie Galloway.  The last three pageants dealing with early Brazoria County history, were written by Thelma Thompson.

 

The San Jacinto Festival was one of the sponsoring organizations, and a chief financial contributor when the Replica of the First Capitol was built in 1977.  The proceeds from the festivals are used for community improvement, and historical projects.

 

We welcome everyone as we celebrate our 55th Annual San Jacinto Festival by recalling the rich heritage of West Columbia. from the days of the Republic of Texas.

 

We hope you have a wonderful time on San Jacinto Day 2009; meet new people, make new friends, visit old friends and come together as a community and thank those courageous settlers who helped carve out our great state of Texas!   Visit our many historical sites - The Replica of  the First Capitol, Ammon-Underwood home, Waddy Cabin, Columbia Historical Museum and Varner Hogg Plantation and much more.