Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park near Brownsville, Texas is a National Park Service unit which 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 Battlefield National Historical Park
Palo Alto battlegrounds today
Location in Texas
Location in United States
LocationCameron County, Texas, U.S.
Nearest cityBrownsville, Texas
Coordinates26°1′17″N 97°28′50″W
Area3,357.42 acres (13.5870 km2)
1,039.62 acres (420.72 ha) federal
EstablishedNovember 10, 1915
Visitors36,707 (in 2012)[1]
Governing bodyNational Park Service
WebsitePalo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
U.S. National Historical Park
Former U.S. National Historic Site
Built1846 (1846)
NRHP reference No.66000812
Significant dates
Designated NHLDecember 19, 1960[2]
Designated NHPMarch 30, 2009
Designated NHSNovember 19, 1978
Delisted NHSMarch 30, 2009

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.

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 half-mile trail leads to an overlook of the battlefield and includes interpretive panels.

Administrative history
Battle of Palo Alto historical marker

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.[3]

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See also

References
  1. "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  2. Staff (June 2011). "National Historic Landmarks Program: Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State, Texas" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved January 10, 2018..
  3. HR 146, section 7113
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