Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park in Brownsville, Texas

PARK OVERVIEW

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park in Brownsville, Texas, preserves the scenes of the first two major battles of the Mexican-American War: the Battle of Palo Alto on May 8, 1846, and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma on May 9th. Visitors to the park should first stop at the Visitor Center to learn about the battles before heading out to explore. A 15-minute film that shows on demand and a small museum provide excellent information about both battles, the Mexican-American War in general, and the events that caused it. After familiarizing yourself with the history, take a walk through the coastal prairie of the Palo Alto battlefield on a paved, wheelchair accessible path. It’s hard to imagine that so many people were killed at such a beautiful place. When done, hop in your car and travel six miles south to the Resaca de la Palma battlefield. A paved path circles a small plot of land, all that remains of the battlefield due to extensive real estate development in the area.

OPERATING HOURS

Hours for the Visitor Center for Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park vary per season. From November until the end of January it is typically open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 4 PM and on Sundays 12:30 PM to 4 PM. For the rest of the year it is open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 4:30 PM (closed Sundays and Mondays). The facility is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

The Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma battlefield grounds are open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. Both parks are gated, and the gates close promptly at 5, so be sure you are out of the park by then.

Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page.

FEES

There is no fee to enter Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park.

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Visitor Center
allow 30-60 minutes

Palo Alto Battlefield Tour
allow 1 hour

Resaca de la Palma Battlefield
allow 30 minutes