A monument honoring the contributions of Spanish and Mexican pioneers in Texas history was unveiled on the south lawn of the Capitol this morning.
Officials including Governor Rick Perry and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst took part in the ceremony, along with hundreds of citizens excited a monument honoring Texas' unsung forebearers had been installed on the Capitol grounds.
The Tejano Monument is comprised of 11 bronze, life-size sculptures created by Laredo artist Armando Hinojosa.
KUT News caught up with Hinojosa at a reception yesterday. He called the monument long overdue. “I just want people to know where the state started from,” he said. “Not with the Alamo and Jim Bowie and Davie Crockett. They came because they were mercenaries, because they wanted land. But there were people here already.”
A parade celebrating the monument’s unveiling begins Saturday morning at 9 a.m. on Congress Avenue.
You can view Filipa Rodrigues' photos for KUT News in the slideshow below.
