Beason's (Beeson's) Crossing

Benjamin Beason, one of Stephen F. Austin's original 300 colonists, settled by a widely used Colorado River crossing near here in 1822. He and his wife Elizabeth proceeded to build a large home (also used as an inn) and establish a gristmill, sawmill, gin, and ferry operation at the crossing. His residence and business operations and a scattering of homesteads in the area formed a settlement known as Beason's Crossing. In the early spring of 1836 Beason found his home, family, and complex of commercial buildings in the perilous position in between Sam Houston's army, camped on the east bank of the Colorado River opposite Beason's Crossing, and a Mexican army led by General Juaquin Ramirez Y Sesma fast approaching from the west. Houston had chosen this site to camp because of its strategic location at the edge of the most populous part of Texas. With his 1500 troops in position, Houston is said to have declared, "on the Colorado I make my stand." Notwithstanding this bold declaration, Houston unexpectedly removed his Army to the Brazos River on March 26th. Beason's crossing was subsequently burned to the ground by a detachment of Houston's army scarcely hours before the arrival of Sesma's army. Sam Houston Bicentennial 1793 - 1993

Beason's (Beeson's) Crossing is a historical marker in Columbus, Colorado County, dedicated in 1993. It is one of 110 historical markers documented in Colorado County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 129 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.7040, -96.5351 near Columbus. The nearest cataloged historic site is Benjamin Beason's Crossing of the Colorado River (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include State Highway 3 Bridge at the Colorado River, Columbus Waterworks, and Townsend-Koliba House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5089000347. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.