Goliad Texas: history, shopping and beer

While we are in Victoria Texas for January, we took a Saturday and went full-on tourist, to a place we had read about last winter but didn’t have the time to visit.

Goliad, Texas is the home of the not-as-famous Texas battle for Independence . The original cry of Texicans fighting for independence was “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!”  They shouted this when they were fighting at San Jacinto just before capturing Santa Anna and winning the War.  Somewhere along the way, the Goliad part got lost.  Maybe because San Antonio grew up around the Alamo, and Goliad remained (and still is) a very small community.

Nevertheless, we made the 1/2 drive from Victoria, and , in spite of the cold weather, arrived at downtown on “Market Days.”  This once-a-month activity brings vendors to the old downtown Courthouse and Square, for everything you can imagine selling under a Easy-up canopy.

We strolled the vendors – didn’t buy anything, but enjoyed the view – reading the historical markers around the Square (they have a Hanging Tree, with some gruesome history).  Small shops dot the perimeter, and we enjoyed lunch at the Empresario Restaurant.  We also stopped by the Goliad Markethouse Museum, which was small and free, and had some very entertaining local history (e.g. an X-ray machine before electricity was around, and the equipment from a broom factory located in town during the late 1800’s).

One of the most visited tourist destinations is the Presidio La Bahía, and the Mission Espirtu Santo, at Goliad State Park, just outside of town. The two sites are full of museum-quality history. Of course, you need to pay an entrance fee to the state park, if you don’t have a Texas State Parks pass. The Presidio is owned by the Catholic Archdioces in the area, and does charge an entrance fee.

While at Goliad Market Days, we were told about a brewery outside of town  – Goliad Brewing Co.  On Saturday afternoons, they open their facility about 2 miles outside the town, invite local bands and food trucks, and serve beer to attendees (yes, IDs are checked, and it isn’t free!).  They have a large stage, covered picnic areas, lots of beautiful, old oak trees.  There were horseshoes, corn hole, tours of the brewery process, and general all around fun.  I hope they can continue to do it!