San Felipe tells the story of its role in the early Austin Colony. Stephen F. Austin founded the town in 1823 as the capital of his colony. San Felipe became its first urban center and also served as its social, economic, and political hub. This gives your trip planning a clear focus: explore the town’s history through exhibits, an outdoor exhibit, and memorial sites.
The Austin Colony at the Museum and Outdoor Exhibit
The museum at San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site features a desk that belonged to Stephen F. Austin and a printing press from the 1830s. The pairing of a personal item and historic printing equipment offers different perspectives on the colony’s history. The Villa de Austin outdoor exhibit turns the spotlight on the people and businesses that shaped the town more than 200 years ago. In this way, the people and business life depicted add another facet to the history of the political center.
Admission to San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site includes walking trails with a total length of one-third of a mile. Trail conditions can change, so it’s best to check them before your visit.
Memorial Sites on Different Scales
The San Felipe de Austin Historic and Archaeological District is listed on the National Register and includes a granite obelisk commemorating the town’s location. Another historic landmark is San Felipe de Austin Cemetery. It has a fenced Anglo-American section with about 370 burial plots. The two sites represent different forms of remembrance: the obelisk marks the town’s location, while the cemetery section contains individual graves. The number of graves is approximate.
Natural Landscapes at Stephen F. Austin State Park
Stephen F. Austin State Park offers a different landscape to explore. Its 473 acres include bottomland forest, hardwood forest, and ash swamp. The park lies along the Brazos River near an old ferry crossing. The river setting and wooded areas offer several distinct landscape features, from the riverbank to the higher-elevation swamp forest.
Five miles of hiking and biking trails run through the park along the riverbank, beneath tall hardwood trees, and through the higher-elevation swamp forest. The Wildlife Viewing Station is an observation platform where visitors can watch pileated woodpeckers, white-tailed deer, and nine-banded armadillos; sightings are not guaranteed.
Two Trails, Two Time Estimates
The easy Barred Owl Trail is 0.7 miles long, with a stated walking time of 30 minutes. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the Brazos River. The Copperhead Trail is also easy: at 0.5 miles, it is shorter, but the stated walking time is 40 minutes. The trail passes through old-growth trees, and visitors may spot tracks left by bobcats and gray foxes. For comparing the trails, both their lengths and their different estimated walking times are worth considering.
Park trails may close in muddy or otherwise unfavorable conditions. Check the current trail status before your outing, especially if you plan to hike either route.
Discover more destinations: Bellville, Cat Spring and Sealy.
Return to the regional travel overview: Austin County.
