Texana Thursday: 3 Fun Facts about the San Jacinto Monument

The San Jacinto Monument (public domain photo)

The San Jacinto Monument, east of Houston, commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto, in which Texas won its independence from Mexico and became a republic. Texas joined the United States in 1845.

1. A now-defunct government agency played a key role in building the monument.

In 1936, Texas celebrated its centennial. America was in the Great Depression, but that wouldn’t stop a highly-respected Houston businessman from leading efforts to create one of Texas‘s most iconic monuments.

Jesse H. Jones played a leading role in the creation and operation of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. The RFC, as it was known, played a crucial role during the Great Depression by providing financial support to state and local governments. The RFC also made loans to banks and other businesses to help them remain solvent.

Jones was RFC chairman from 1933 to 1939. The RFC provided funds, as did the State of Texas, to build the monument.

Jones is perhaps better known to Houstonians for creating, with his wife Mary, Houston Endowment, which owned many businesses, including the Houston Chronicle newspaper. Houston Endowment sold the newspaper to the Hearst Corporation in 1987.

Houston Endowment was also known for its support of various philanthropic causes, including education. Numerous buildings, including the Jesse H. Jones Hall and the Houston Public Library’s main building in downtown Houston, are named in honor of Jones.

Jones died in 1956. The RFC was disbanded in 1957.

2. It cost $1.5 million to build the monument.

Construction began on the monument on April 21, 1936, the 100-year anniversary of the battle. Construction was completed and the monument was dedicated on April 21, 1939. The $1.5 million it cost to build the monument would be approximately $26.1 million today.

The monument underwent renovation and 1993, the cost of which was over $1 million.

3. The San Jacinto Monument is taller than the Washington Monument.

The San Jacinto Monument is 567 feet tall. The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall.