Goliad State Park & Historic Site

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History in Lights
Take a walk through the history of Mission Espiritu Santo as lights and shadow transport you back in time.
Rio! Rio!
For centuries people have been settling along the San Antonio River, from native hunters and gatherers to European immigrants. Come see how they lived and changed the surrounding area at this exciting event!
Aranama Nature Trail Hike
Explore the flora, fauna, and history of Goliad State Park on this ranger-led 1/3-mile hike.
Skins and Skulls
Get up close and personal with some of the animals of Goliad State Park by looking at, and feeling, their fur, talons, and teeth!
Fire Building
Learn how to make a fire, from selecting a location and fuel to lighting it!
Intro to iNaturalist- City Nature Challenge
Learn how to use the free app, iNaturalist, to help identify plants and animals and participate in a citizen science project- the City Nature Challenge!
Plants of the Mission
Explore how Native Americans utilized the plants in the area for food, clothing, tools, and more!
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Atlatl - Ancient Hunting
Test your skills with the atlatl, an ancient hunting tool once used across the globe.
Spring Break Crafts & Activities- Ranching & Roping
Learn why Goliad is considered the Birthplace of Texas Ranching and try your hand at roping!
Story of Saint Francis
Learn the fascinating story of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order of friars who would cross the globe to convert Native Americans to Catholicism.
Spring Break Crafts and Activities- Corn Husk Dolls
Get creative with corn husks! Make your own corn husk doll to take home and learn about the history of corn husk dolls.
Spring Break Crafts & Activities- Pinch Pots
Learn about Native American pottery making while making your own pinch pot!
Native American Games
Sometimes life for Native Americans was all fun and games!
Candle Making
See how mission inhabitants kept the "lights" on with candle making!
Mission History Tour
Enjoy a guided history tour of Mission Espiritu Santo as you learn about life in and around the mission during the Spanish Colonial Era.
Batty for Bats
Get to know our aerial allies a little better and learn why they deserve our appreciation!
Spring Break Crafts and Activities- God's Eye Weaving
Learn the history behind God's Eye crafts and create your own to take home!
Corn Husk Doll Ornaments
Make a fun doll or ornament using corn husks and creativity!
Art in the Park
Embrace your creative side by making nature-themed crafts on the grounds of Mission Espiritu Santo.
Trade Beads - Universal Currency
Colorful beads played a huge role as Europeans began exploring new places and encountering unknown groups of people.
History of Piñatas
Now a common party activity, piñatas weren't always just fun and games! Come learn the fascinating history of piñatas and their link to Spanish missions.
Mission History Tour
Enjoy a guided history tour of Mission Espiritu Santo as you learn about life in and around the mission during the Spanish Colonial Era.
Ranching & Roping
Learn why Goliad is considered the Birthplace of Texas Ranching and try your hand at roping!
Spring Break Crafts & Activities- Cordage
Discover how Native Americans made rope from yucca leaves, then try it yourself!
Birding 101
Learn how to use a field guide & binoculars before heading down the trail to see what birds we can find!
Fishing with a Ranger
Join a Ranger and go fish! On the banks of the San Antonio River, you'll get all the assistance you need to wet a line and try your luck at reeling in a catch!
Mission Scavenger Hunt
Join a ranger on a scavenger hunt as you use your given clues to find "artifacts" in the park, then hear what makes each artifact special to Mission Espiritu Santo!
Night Spider Hunt
Search high and low in the dark of night to find, and learn about, some of the spiders of Goliad State Park!
Night Sky Viewing
Celebrate National Space Exploration Day with a night of stargazing and marveling at the moon from the grounds of Mission Espiritu Santo!
Ranger Coffee Chat
Got questions about local wildlife? Trees? History? Employment with TPWD? The meaning of life? We're here to chat!
Animal Olympics
Can you outrun an opossum? Balance like a squirrel? Jump farther than a grasshopper? Give it your all and see how you compare to animals in the park!
Who's at Bat
Baseball players need to have specialized skills to be good in their sport, just like bats need specialized skills to survive!
Ranger Led Yoga
Start your day with some relaxing yoga on the mission porch!
Stripling's Legacy
Architect Raiford Stripling did more than restore buildings, he brought history back to life.
Sunset Hike
Celebrate the Fall Equinox by reconnecting with nature at Goliad State Park.
El Camino Real- Connecting Heritage
From game trails to highways, El Camino Real shaped the landscape and culture of Texas in ways we still see today.
Pumpkin Painting
Break out your creativity and paint a pumpkin! Will you be a lucky winner taking home a prize?
Haunted History
Join us for a guided walk around Mission Espiritu Santo under cover of darkness as a Ranger talks about the spooky and mysterious aspects of the mission and its inhabitants.
Find Your Way- Compass Class
Learn the basics of navigating with a compass!
Birding the San Antonio River Trail
Green jays and robins and crows, oh my! With so many birds to be found along the San Antonio River, who knows what we will see!
History in Lights- Activity Nights
Try some samples of hot chocolate before taking a walk through the history of Mission Espiritu Santo as lights and shadow transport you back in time, then try your hand at roping and see how candles were made!
First Day Hike
Greet the first sunrise of the year with a sunrise hike!
Walk and Talk
Join a Ranger on a walk and get a chance to ask questions and chat with a Ranger!
The Ants Go Marching
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an ant? In this interactive program*, learn about the intricacies of a leafcutter ant colony and see for yourself how much work goes in to maintaining a fungus farm!
Cattle Branding
Come see why cattle brands were so important to Mission Espiritu Santo and to people across the world, learn some different branding techniques, and make your own brand!