Project leader: Frank Michel
County: Austin
Address: 220 2nd St., San Felipe, TX 77473
VMS opportunity: SFA State Historic Site Native Plant Garden
San Felipe de Austin, a town founded by Stephen F. Austin in 1823, played a pivotal role in events leading up to the Texas Revolution, yet this story is not nearly as well-known or understood as others in the chronicles of Texas history, including the Alamo and San Jacinto.
Commemorating the location where, in 1823, Stephen F. Austin established a headquarters for his colony in Mexican Texas, San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site shares the stories of early settlers in this region. Today, visitors can walk in the footsteps of these early pioneers at what was the social, economic, and political center of American immigration to Texas before independence. San Felipe de Austin didn’t survive the war for Texas independence — it was burned by its own residents as they evacuated during the Runaway Scrape of 1836.
Working together with the historic site staff, TMN GLC has hosted two birding events and will continue to develop a birding program on site. Currently this program includes educational programs, but may expand over time to include development of a bird blind.
In addition, TMN GLC chapter members will serve as docents for nature walks that will help visitors envision the tall grass prairie as it existed before settlement and to connect the human history of the site with its natural history. Volunteer docents will be provided with training as well as materials to enhance the nature walk.