Located in the city of Menard Texas, the ruins of the Presidio San Saba are a reminder to the early Spanish exploration and attempts to colonize the territory.  While the site has not yet been reconstructed, walking around the grounds does offer the visitor a feeling for the size of the presidio and a careful reading of the welcome sign does give an insight into the area’s history.

1) Presidio San Saba

• Originally established in April 1757 as San Luis De Las Amarillas Presidio
• Original purpose was support for Santa Cruz de San Saba Mission
• First place Europeans had a conflict with the Comanche
• Comanche’s had horses and guns from the French, were a superior fighting force
• In 1758 the Mission was attacked by 2,000 Comanches and their allies
• By 1772, unrelenting attacks by various tribes caused the Presidio to be moved
• Remains of the Presidio are being reconstructed for historical purposes

2) Menard County

• Located in Central Texas at the intersection of U.S.Highway 83 and State Highway 29
• The county encompasses approximately 902 square miles in the heart of Central Texas
• Terrain is rolling hills
• The San Saba River serves as the main drain of the area
• Wide variety of wildlife, includes foxes, deear, opossums, turkeys, badgers, many other species
• Early settlers of the area included the Apache and Comanche
• Comanches were frequent raiders of the early settlements
• James and Rezin Bowie traveled the San Saba Valley in the 1830s to look for a silver mine
• Formed from Bexar County in 1858
• Named for Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston
• The county had its first official government in 1871, did not participate in the secession vote

2) City of Menard

• Located one mile from San Luis de las Amarillas Presidio
• Original name was Menardville when founded in 1858
• Mendardville served as an overnight stop on north and west cattle trails
• First courthouse was built in 1872
• 1899 San Saba River flooded the town
• 1910 town was renamed Menard at the request of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railrood Company
• Town was market for livestock, will, and mohair, along with oil production