The Tejano Monument is located in the southeast section of the Capital Grounds. It is the work of sculptor Armando Hinojosa (2012) and pays tribute to the Spanish and Mexican explorers & pioneers that began to settle the lands before Texas statehood and who have helped shape local history and culture since the 1500s. What you see are various bronze Tejano figures going about their daily lives. They stand upon a large Red Granite Base with natural land contours. In front of the various figures are five plaques which tell their stories. It is quite a creative sculptural arrangement and testimony worth spending a few minutes to view and read while sightseeing around the Capital grounds.

During our trip through Texas, this was the one monument (along with the Cenotaph in San Antonio) that really stood out to me. If you are entering the Capitol Grounds from the main entrance (E 11th Street) this is off to your right and down a bit. It is eye catching though, given its large size and the bronze bulls that sit atop a small mountain of stone. When you approach you are greeted with five to six tablets that transition you through the history of Texas itself. You learn about the phases of what became Texan identity, how the different ethnic groups got to Texas and what the land was before it became Texas. It still stands out to me given the importance I think it has in connecting you with the land you're standing on.Make the time to walk through the Capitol Grounds before entering the Capitol Building and search this one out. It's size, scope and historical value make it an important part of any discovery you may be interested in making. As it is outdoors though appreciate it may get a bit hot, and for some reason the area this was in tended to be a bit more fogged the morning we went than the rest of the Capitol Grounds.

The Monument is located outside the capitol of Austin. It marks the effort of the Tejano-people during the war between the American and the mexican about dominion over Texas