Credit: Photo by Gerald E. Mcleod

The Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park in Conroe salutes 13 Texas Revolution battle flags with a memorial to the Texans who carried them and the man who drew the first modern Texas flag.

Before the revolution led by Sam Houston succeeded, there were more than 50 unsuccessful attempts to wrestle Texas from Mexico, each with its own banner. The park waves 13 historic flags that were used by the revolutionaries. In the center of the circle of flagpoles stands a 14-foot-tall statue by Houston artist Craig Campobello of a Texian pioneer holding the Lone Star flag.

Charles B. Stewart, a local doctor and pioneer, is credited with drawing the original draft of the red, white, and blue Lone Star flag in 1839. Besides fighting in several skirmishes with Mexico, Stewart signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and represented Montgomery County in the first Texas Legislature.

The Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park is on the east frontage road of I-45 just south of TX 105 in Conroe, the county seat of Montgomery County. Unveiled April 21, 2011, on the 175th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, the park is next to the county library. For the history of the park, go to www.texasflagpark.org.

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.