El Camino Real Day

This celebration will present an Official Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony for El Rancho Del Atascosa. We will be dedicating a historical marker on the Poteet Strawberry Festival Grounds for El Rancho Del Atascosa. The Camino Real Trail passed within 50 yards of the proposed location of the marker. From our research, we understand that the Trail played a significant role in the location of the Rancho del Atascosa, a mission ranch of Mission San Jose.

At 9:00AM, "Rancho de las Cabras: The Historic Waystop along the Camino de Real": Join a National Park Ranger from San Antonio Missions National Historical and journey through time as you visit, the ONLY remaining Spanish Colonial ranching site in the world, Rancho de las Cabras. Part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Rancho de las Cabras, is located about 35 miles south of San Antonio in Floresville, TX. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Please email SAAN_Interpretation@nps.gov for reservations and more information. This tour meets in Floresville, TX on Saturday, October 19th and begins at 9AM.

At 1:00PM, this site will be doing a presentation on the importance of roadside inn and stores.

The Trail de Flores Chapter of our El Camino Real de los Tejas NHT Association will host a virtual "Mission to Rancho Challenge" whereby registered participants will be challenged to complete a 31 mile virtual retracement of the trail from Mission Espada to Rancho de ls Cabras. The participants can begin as early as October 19th and will have until the end of the year to finish, tracking their progress and learning about the trail’s history on the event web site. Finishers will be rewarded with a commemorative t-shirt and medal.

From 10:00AM - 4:00PM, experience Living History Day and "The Military History of Presidio La Bahia: 1749 - 1861". The event is free with regular admission of $5 for adult, $3 for senior, veteran, teacher or first responder, and free for kids 6 and under.

October 19th is especially significant this year for two Milam County families (Baumanns and Conners) as they will be officially opening a 2.2-mile retracement of the Trail on their private properties in the Ranchería Grande area. The families have been working with ElCaT and the National Park Service for over two years to complete this project. It is one of very few private areas in Texas that will be open to the public to celebrate the early history of Texas. This is a by-invitation-only event and space is limited to 10 people. Reservations will only be taken for up to 2 people at a time. If you are interested in joining please contact staff@elcaminorealdelostejas.org. Once your reservation is confirmed, we will send you the event details.

At 12:00PM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM, special guided tours with an emphasis on El Camino Real de los Tejas NHT will be taking place. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for students, and free for children 5 and under.

At 6:30PM, the Bastrop Historical Society will have at presentation concerning El Camino Real de los Tejas NHT with an emphasis on Bastrop County.

At 10:00AM - 2:00PM, "History Comes Alive" at Oakland Plantation with a step into the past with skilled park rangers and park partners as the past comes to life at this living history day.

From 10:00AM - Noon, for no fee experience "Roads to Nowhere" where guests can learn about the original El Camino Real de los Tejas as it travelled throughout the area around what is now Fort Jesup State Historic Site as well as the history of the original Old Soldier's Road and Highway 6 as it moved to the Spanish/Texas border in the early 1800s. Everyone can learn about the early road that soldiers, settlers, and those hungry for new experiences would have travelled during Northwest Louisiana's history.

From 10AM - 2PM, the Cherokee County Historical Commission is hosting a Art/Photography/Quilt show, called "Art on El Camino". It will take place at the Stella Hill Library on Saturday.

At 11:00AM, there will be a rededication of the Caddo Mounds Historical Marker that was damaged in the 2019 tornado. The marker is on Highway 21 West across from Caddo Mounds Historical Site. At 12:00PM, experience a "Walk Through History" presentation by the Cherokee County Historical Commission as members of the Cherokee County Historical Commission portray historical figures that traveled El Camino Real de los Tejas throughout history.

From Noon - 4:00PM, experience traditional craft demonstrations, traditional food demonstrations, a nature hike, and explore the grounds. Come and go as you please for free. More information can be found on the Cane River National Heritage Area Facebook page.

Nacogdoches Historic Sites and the Stone Fort Museum are hosting two events celebrating El Camino Real de los Tejas. The first event, on Thursday, October 17 at 6 PM at the Taylor House (304 North St., Nacogdoches), will feature a discussion on the East Texas landscape and the challenges it posed to travelers on El Camino Real. The second event, an El Camino Real Jamboree, will take place on Saturday, October 19 at the Stone Fort Museum on the SFA campus. From 10 AM to 2 PM, learn about making wild plum jelly and how to bake bread in a Dutch oven! At 2 PM, a preserved food contest will kick off an afternoon of music and makerspace activities. More information about the event can be found on Nacogdoches Historic Sites and Stone Fort Museum facebook pages and at nactx.us/historicsites