About the Company
rating: 4.2
The Battle of Palmito Ranch was the final land battle of the American Civil War. It was fought May 12–13, 1865, along the banks of the Rio Grande, 13 miles east of Brownsville and 10 miles from the Union-held seaport of Brazos de Santiago. The battle, a Confederate victory, took place more than a month after Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to Union forces and 13 days before the Army of the Trans-Mississippi under Gen. Edmund Smith surrendered in Galveston on May 26. There are historical markers nearby and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service viewing platform with interpretive signage located at the intersection of Palmito Hill Road and Boca Chica Highway (HWY 4). Best time to visit: during daylight hours.
Categories
- Historical landmark
Contact Information
Phone: +1 956-943-0735
Website: https://thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/palmito-ranch-battlefield
Address: 43296 Palmito Hill Rd, Brownsville, TX 78521, United States
- Monday: 6 AM–8 PM
- Tuesday: 6 AM–8 PM
- Wednesday: 6 AM–8 PM
- Thursday: 6 AM–8 PM
- Friday: 6 AM–8 PM
- Saturday: 6 AM–8 PM
- Sunday: 6 AM–8 PM
Photos
Reviews
Review №1
Rating: 5
Although not yet officially recognized as a National Military Park (yet), what they have done here is pretty solid. What you will see is a very basic overview of this last land battle. The map provides the correct locations of the units and the terrain they fought over. This clash however, was very minor with relatively few casualties on either side. Both sides knew that General Lee and other Confederate forces had surrendered prior to this battle. So, why was it fought...Union Col Barrett had not seen combat and this was his last opportunity to gain it along with the fame of victory. The Confederate leadership on the other hand, had a basic truce/agreement from Union leaders that Union forces would not engage them in the RGV any longer. This agreement occured months before the battle. With a fair Pease in hand, Confederates were caught off guard by Barretts surprised advance. The Union troops were made up of only infantry and a small supply train. They were a mix of veterans from the 34th Indiana, the 62nd Colored Regiment that had not yet seen real combat and a new Texas volunteer unit that had recently been created. The Confederates had only a small number of skilled cavalry to fight off the advance initially. This basically was a two day skirmish that turned into a route of Col Barrett and his infantry troops. Union forces were close to a victory, but poor decisions by Col Barrett and a large body Confederate reinforcements at the critical moment, changed the course of the battle. What saved the Union troops from total disaster was the stand of the troops on the Union skirmish line and the 62nd Colored troops rear defensive fight that held back the Southern Troopers and artillery. Ultimately the 34th Indiana fled the field and the Texas volunteers crumbled and vanished from the fight. The Confederates had the final victory, but it changed nothing for the Southern cause. The war was finally over.
Date: a month ago
Review №2
Rating: 3
Good stop to make if you like a sense of history. Signs shown in the other pictures are now badly faded from the sun.
Date: 3 months ago
Review №3
Rating: 5
Date: 4 months ago
Review №4
Rating: 3
Date: a year ago
Review №5
Rating: 3
Roadside pull-off with several info panels.
Date: a year ago
Review №6
Rating: 4
Date: a year ago
Review №7
Rating: 5
The drive over from Brownsville city limits to Palmito is very Scenic Displaying South Texas Nature,untouched beauty and local wildlife animal/Birds Etc it is also en route to space x.Once at the Battle site you can get off your car and Explore the Historical site and read the bulletins for yourself to find out what really happened here at the historical site
Date: a year ago
Review №8
Rating: 5
Date: a year ago
Review №9
Rating: 4
needs a bit of upkeep. interesting though.
Date: 2 years ago
Review №10
Rating: 4
I must visit sometime!
Date: 2 years ago
Review №11
Rating: 5
It gives a great snapshot of American history that helped shape this country.
Date: 2 years ago
Review №12
Rating: 5
Date: 2 years ago
Review №13
Rating: 2
Date: 2 years ago
Review №14
Rating: 4
I really enjoyed coming here and was happy to see and read the historical markers. I think a good addition would be a kiosk with interpretive maps or NPS/ state park brochures detailing the battle. A must see if youre interested in US history.
Date: 2 years ago
Review №15
Rating: 5
ex
Date: 3 years ago
Review №16
Rating: 4
Delicious!
Date: 3 years ago
Review №17
Rating: 5
will we ever make it to Mars,
Date: 3 years ago
Review №18
Rating: 5
I just happened to be going to Boca chica and there was a scheduled launch. I couldnt just go to the beach so this was a good place to stop and watch.
Date: 3 years ago
Review №19
Rating: 5
The actual small trail and palmito ranch itself are located off a dirt road before this roadside monument as noted by some other reviews. The roadside monument itself is nice and has a good welcome sign to boca chica stat park. Good piece of history, not worth going specifically just for the monument but I recommend stopping here when driving to boca chica beach
Date: 3 years ago
Review №20
Rating: 2
Theres not a lot to see here other than the signs posted. Now, with SpaceX restricting access on certain days, they have been a hindrance to the park exploration. Its sad that the park and beaches and residents are being slowly consumed by SpaceX.
Date: 4 years ago
Review №21
Rating: 5
Date: 4 years ago
Review №22
Rating: 4
Date: 4 years ago
Review №23
Rating: 3
Date: 4 years ago
Review №24
Rating: 5
Date: 4 years ago
Review №25
Rating: 5
Nice
Date: 4 years ago
Review №26
Rating: 4
Not much to see but was a nice drive.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №27
Rating: 5
First of all, Google maps has the location wrong and theres not much to see but the history behind the battle is interesting. When you turn off the highway to go to the monument its actually just a 100 yards or so on the right. There is a little lot you turn into and it has a few markers to read. Lots of markers along the highway going out to the beach on 4. Also out that way is a SpaceX facility where they launch rockets from time to time. You can also go to the end of 4, take a right at the beach and drive down to where the Rio Grande feeds into the gulf. And across the river is Mexico. No border wall, no fence, etc. Its really cool to see. Not sure if you could make it with a 2WD vehicle, would just depend on conditions. The coast line is very different than the rest of Padre island IMHO.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №28
Rating: 5
Love seeing remnants of history all around us.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №29
Rating: 4
Small but important history
Date: 5 years ago
Review №30
Rating: 4
Interesting roadside stop.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №31
Rating: 5
Its cool for what its worth. Its not more more than a roadside monument. But its nice that its there. The drive to Boca Chica has quite a few roadside stops associated with this era. Its cool to see this little known battle memorialized.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №32
Rating: 5
Date: 5 years ago
Review №33
Rating: 4
Date: 5 years ago
Review №34
Rating: 3
Date: 6 years ago
Review №35
Rating: 3
Date: 6 years ago
Review №36
Rating: 3
Last battle of the civil way but not much to see.
Date: 6 years ago