Palo Alto Battlefield: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Palo Alto National Historical Park, National Park Service

Starr, Helen; Mardorf, Carrie

Palo Alto Battlefield landscape is located 10 miles north of Brownsville at the southern tip of Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border. The 3,475-acre landscape is a component of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, preserving an historic Mexican War battle site. The cultural landscape period of significance encompasses the battle events of 1846 and the post-battle commemorative era from 1847 to 1916. The site was the location of the first major battle of the war between Mexico and the United States. Historic descriptions of the May 8, 1846 battle identified natural features such as topography, vegetation, and water features as significant points of reference for army maneuvers, staging areas, and battle formations. Palo Alto Battlefield is significant as the first battle of the U.S.-Mexican War, for contributions to military technology, and as a commemorative landscape. It is also significant for its association with important generals present at the battle; and for its potential to yield further historical information. During the battle, the only human-made features were two historic roads: the Port Isabel-Matamoros Road, leading northeast to southwest, and the Tanques del Ramireno Road, leading north from Matamoras. The coastal salt prairie that surrounds the road between Port Isabel and Matamoros was chosen by the Mexican army to intercept the United States forces as they tried to relieve the besieged Fort Brown, about 10 miles away. The open and relatively flat area lent itself to the ensuing battle, fought mostly with artillery. With the exception of some impacts from 20th century agricultural activities and limited development in surrounding areas, the battlefield today looks much as it did at the time of the 1846 battle. After the battle, efforts to make the site a tourist destination and commemorative site contributed to landscape character. The Palo Alto House was opened in 1847 to accommodate battlefield visitors, while a stone monument and cannon were erected in 1893 and 1916. In the early to mid-20th century, ranching enterprises expanded in the region and the battlefield was used for cattle grazing, altering the character of the landscape by changing topography, land use, and vegetation communities. Ranching activities and crop cultivation continued throughout the late 20th century, and ranching continues today on the eastern portion of the lands. The Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site was created in 1978 to preserve and commemorate the history of the unique site. Portions of the battlefield lands remained in private ownership until the late 1990s. Between that time and the present, the National Park Service has made significant efforts to purchase lands and open the site to visitors. In 2003, visitor facilities were constructed, screened from the main battle area by heavy vegetation. Trails and waysides were also constructed to provide pedestrian access and interpretation. These contemporary features provide valuable amenities and interpretive opportunities for battlefield visitors without compromising the integrity of the site. Today, Palo Alto Battlefield continues to be characterized primarily by its topography, vegetation, and water features. The park retains its broad level plain covered with coastal salt prairie, edged with thick brush. The brushland areas have become denser over the years, with different composition. The resacas that wind through the landscape are still evident today, and remain as important reference points for battle events. The resacas also offer seasonal wetlands and valuable wildlife habitat. Although changes to the landscape have occurred as a result of natural processes and evolving land use, Palo Alto Battlefield retains integrity to its two periods of significance and continues to reflect the role that the landscape played in battle events and outcomes during the United States-Mexican War.

Palo Alto Battlefield: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Palo Alto National Historical Park, National Park Service

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