Gonzales is one of the most historic towns in Texas and is known as the gateway to Texas history. We have Memorial Museum, which is one of the few centennial buildings not built on a college campus, the Old Jail Museum, a first-shot monument at the battle ground, seven historic squares, a living history center and two pictorial displays that tell of the runaway scrape and the demand by the Mexican Army for return of the cannon loaned to early settlers for defense against the Indians. This was the confrontation that led to the first shot fired in the war for Texas independence. There is also a self-guided driving tour and walking tours of the historic downtown district.