Facts
đ Region: South Texas Plains / City: Goliad
đď¸ Year Built: 1894
đ§âđ¨ Architect: Alfred Giles
đď¸ Architectural Style: Second Empire
đ Unique Details: Featuring distinctive mansard roofs, central clock tower, and construction using blue Muldoon sandstone accented with red Pecos sandstone. Remarkably, materials from the 1870 courthouse were repurposedâsome hauled from Austin by ox cart.
A unique feature of the courthouse grounds is the âHanging Treeâ located on the north lawn. Between 1846 and 1870, this tree served as a site for public executions, including those during the 1857 Cart War, where approximately 70 individuals lost their lives .
Why See It?
It sits in the heart of Goliad, one of the oldest towns in Texas, just blocks away from the Presidio La BahĂa and Mission EspĂritu Santo, key sites in early Texas and Spanish colonial history. The courthouse square is surrounded by other historic buildings, giving visitors a sense of stepping back in time.
Nearby Highlights
Goliad State Park & Historic Site â The park centers on the restored Mission EspĂritu Santo, an 18th-century Spanish mission, and the nearby Presidio La BahĂa, site of the Goliad Massacre during the Texas Revolution.
Photo Gallery
