Known across the state as the place where Texas became Texas, Washington on the Brazos holds a truly monumental place in history. Located in Washington County, this historic site is where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed in 1836. We recently had the honor of taking part in a six-month restoration project to help reconstruct and bring new life to the iconic grounds.

Partnering with Clark Condon and the Texas Historical Commission, our team took on an extensive hardscape scope aimed at preserving history while creating an inviting, durable space for future visitors.

Throughout the old townsite, we handled regrading and installed decomposed granite (DG) pathways across the reconstructed grounds. Over in the museum section, we built custom hardscape pathways, seatwalls, and planters that connect the Star of the Republic Museum directly to the Reception Center. All of the wall and paving finishes in this area were built using high-end granite, complete with integrated walkway lighting.

One of the standout features of the entire build was the custom granite paver work. We crafted a detailed 227-square-foot map of Texas made from custom granite pavers, alongside laser-cut granite map plazas for the Revolutionary Plaza and the Republic of Texas. Across four map plazas, we installed custom-etched granite flags depicting historical Texas iconography.

With intricate custom stone comes unique hurdles. We faced long lead times for the custom granite pavers, which required us to adapt our normal sequence. To keep momentum going without missing a beat, our team constructed all subgrade and surface groundwork ahead of time while awaiting delivery. Once the materials arrived on site, we shifted into an extremely accelerated installation schedule to get everything set in place.

Restoring such a storied Texas landmark was an incredible experience for our team. We are proud to have played a role in revitalizing the grounds so visitors can walk through history for generations to come.

Landscape Architect: Clark Condon 

Project Manager: Richard Twardowski