Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site | |
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| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
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| Location: | Texas, USA |
| Nearest city: | Brownsville, TX |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 3,357.42 acres (13.59 km²), 1,039.62 acres (4.21 km²) federal |
| Established: | November 10, 1978 |
| Total Visitation: | 29,913 (in 2005) |
| Governing body: | National Park Service |
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site near Brownsville, Texas preserves the ground 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.
The National Park Service has acquired a little more than a third of the authorized land for the park, including the 300 acre (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 km²) of the battlefield. Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) infests the landscape, altering the cultural landscape and threatening the natural and cultural resources at the park.
[edit] Administrative history
Palo Alto Battlefield was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960. It became a National Historic Site on November 10, 1978, with a boundary change authorized on June 23, 1992.
[edit] References
- The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.
[edit] External links
- Official NPS website: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site
- Palo Alto Battlefield NHL information
