Near Site of the First Capitol of the Republic of Texas

About 1833 Leman Kelsey built a story-and-a-half clapboard structure near this location. When Columbia became capital of the Republic of Texas in 1836, the building was one of two which housed the newly formed government. The first Republic of Texas Congress convened in Columbia. Here Sam Houston took office as president and Stephen F. Austin as secretary of state. In 1837 the government moved to Houston. The 1900 storm destroyed the original capitol. The replica at this site was built in 1976-77. (1979)

Near Site of the First Capitol of the Republic of Texas is a historical marker in West Columbia, Brazoria County, dedicated in 1979. It is one of 125 historical markers documented in Brazoria County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 223 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.1445, -95.6429 near West Columbia. The nearest cataloged historic site is Columbia Rosenwald School (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Neal Family, Columbia (First Capital of Texas), and Columbia United Methodist Church.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5039009560. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.