Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
Location	Cameron County, Texas, USA
Nearest city	Brownsville, TXNearest city: Brownsville, TX
Coordinates	26°1′17″N 97°28′50″W / 26.02139°N 97.48056°W / 26.02139; -97.48056Coordinates: 26°1′17″N 97°28′50″W / 26.02139°N 97.48056°W / 26.02139; -97.48056
Area	3,357.42 acres (1,358.70 ha) 1,039.62 acres (420.72 ha) federal
Established	November 10, 1978 Established: November 10, 1978
Visitors	29,913 (in 2005)
Governing body	National Park Service

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park near Brownsville, Texas preserves the ground of the May 8, 1846, Battle of Palo Alto. It was the first major conflict in a border dispute that soon precipitated the Mexican-American War. The United States Army victory here made the invasion of Mexico possible. The historic site portrays the battle and the war, and its causes and consequences, from the perspectives of both the United States and Mexico.

Battle of Palo Alto historical marker

The National Park Service has acquired a little more than a third of the authorized land for the park, including the 300 acres (1.2 km²) southern core battlefield tract, which served as the location for Mexican forces during the Battle of Palo Alto. Private landowners still control some 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of the battlefield. Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), although a native plant, is present in an unusually high concentration, altering the cultural landscape and threatening the natural and cultural resources at the park.

The park's visitor center features exhibits about the battle and the Mexican-American War, as well as a 15 minute video titled "War on the Rio Grande". A 1/2 mile trail leads to an overlook of the battlefield and includes interpretive panels.

[edit] Administrative history

Palo Alto Battlefield was designated a National Historic Landmark on December 19, 1960. It became Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site on November 10, 1978, with a boundary change authorized on June 23, 1992. On March 30, 2009 the site was redesignated a National Historical Park.

[edit] References

• The National Parks: Index 2001–2003. Washington: U.S. Department of the Interior.

[edit] External links

• Official NPS website: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
• Palo Alto Battlefield NHL information

v • d • e U.S. National Register of Historic Places Keeper of the Register · History of the National Register of Historic Places · Property types · Historic district · Contributing property List of entries National Park Service · National Historic Landmarks · National Battlefields · National Historic Sites · National Historical Parks · National Memorials · National Monuments

v • d • e National Historical Parks of the United States Abraham Lincoln Birthplace • Adams • Appomattox Court House • Boston • Cane River Creole • Cedar Creek and Belle Grove • Chaco Culture • Chesapeake and Ohio Canal • Colonial • Cumberland Gap • Dayton Aviation Heritage • George Rogers Clark • Harpers Ferry • Hopewell Culture • Independence • Jean Lafitte • Kalaupapa • Kaloko-Honokohau • Keweenaw • Klondike Gold Rush • Lewis and Clark • Lowell • Lyndon B. Johnson • Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller • Minute Man • Morristown • Natchez • New Bedford Whaling • New Orleans Jazz • Nez Perce • Palo Alto Battlefield • Pecos • Pu'uhonua o Honaunau • Roosevelt Campobello International Park • Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front • Salt River Bay • San Antonio Missions • San Francisco Maritime • San Juan Island • Saratoga • Sitka • Thomas Edison • Tumacácori • Valley Forge • War in the Pacific • Women's Rights                                                                                                                                                                 Full Alphabetical List