Leaders of the new Republic of Texas quickly saw the need for a navy to protect supply lines between Texas and U.S. cities, especially New Orleans, Lousiana and Mobile, Alabama.

The official Texas Navy launched in January, 1836, with the purchase of four schooners: Invincible, Brutus, Independence, and Liberty. They helped win independence by preventing a Mexican blockade of the Texas coast, seizing Mexican ships bearing reinforcements and supplies to its army, and sending their cargoes to the aid of Texas volunteers.

By the middle of 1837, all of the ships had been lost at sea, run aground, captured, or sold to settle repair bills. No Texas flags flew at sea until March, 1839, when the Zavala was commissioned as the first ship in a second-generation Navy. 

Soon, the Republic purchased six more ships: San Jacinto, San Bernard, San Antonio, Wharton, Archer, and the 600-ton sloop-of-war Austin.  This fleet also actively defended the Texas coast until a truce was signed with Mexico in the summer of 1843, and the U.S. Navy agreed to protect Texas.

Included in this exhibit are paintings — in tempera — of Texas Navy ships by Austin artist Fred Toler. The paintings were donated to the Museum by the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation in memory of Mrs. Rosa Tod Hamner. This exhibit was made possible by a grant from the Summerlee Foundation, Dallas.

Also included are a:

• Sword and scabbard presented to John Grant Tod by fellow officers in the Republic of Texas Navy
• Rare pencil sketch of the ships of the Texas Navy by W. H.  Sandusky
• Colt model of 1851 .36 caliber revolver, containing an engraving on its cylinder representing the naval battle in which Commodore Moore and the Texas Navy defeated a fleet of Mexican war vessels

To scope out this one-of-a-kind exhibit, visit us today.