In addition to being Texas’ primary election day, today is also Texas Independence Day.

On March 2, 1836 – 174 years ago today – Texas formally issued its declaration of independence from Mexico.

Fifty-four delegates of the Convention of 1836 began meeting on March 1 at the village of Washington-on-the-Brazos in Washington County. All the settlements of Texas were represented by delegates elected one month earlier.

The delegates wrote the Texas Declaration of Independence overnight and it was adopted the following day, March 2.

Independence was declared at Washington-on-the-Brazos even as Santa Anna’s Army was laying siege to the Alamo.

On Sunday at Washington-on-the-Brazos, Congressman Michael McCaul Presented Sam Houston IV with a congressional resolution honoring his legendary ancestor, father of Texas Sam Houston.

Sam Houston IV makes his home in Katy.

Houston was also presented with a resolution from the Texas Legislature. That resolution was presented by State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst.

Following the presentations, McCaul helped the Heritage Bells cut a birthday cake honoring Texas on its 174th birthday.

The celebratory event took place at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park in the shadow of a replica of Independence Hall, the wooden hall where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed and the government of the Republic of Texas created.

The historically-accurate replica stands on the site of the original Independence Hall. An unfinished structure owned by a local gunsmith, the original Independence Hall was offered by enterprising residents as a meeting site for delegates.

Washington-on-the Brazos served as the capital of the provisional government of the Republic of Texas for only 15 day, until advancing Mexican forces forced its removal.

Following the Texans’ victory at San Jacinto, the town again served as the Capital of Texas from 1842 – 1845, the year Texas became a state.