As the sun set in La Porte on Saturday evening, the first Texas Memorial Illumination got underway at the San Jacinto Monument. 21,500 candles glowed at the San Jacinto Battleground.

In just a few months, her headstone at San Jacinto Memorial Park and Funeral Home began sinking with holes around it. "It looked like somebody had dug her up almost," Gilliland said.

This week in April marks the 85th anniversary of the dedication of the San Jacinto Monument – a marvel of design and construction that still stands tall today. Skip Navigation.

On April 21, 1836, Houston’s army surprised a Mexican force at San Jacinto, and Santa Anna, leader of the Mexican forces, was captured — bringing an end to Mexico’s effort to subdue Texas.