Throughout its nearly 190-year history, women have played a vital role in preserving and shaping the story of the San Jacinto Battleground. Heritage organizations made lasting financial and commemorative contributions to the site, with the female-led Daughters of the Republic of Texas central to its development. The work of individual women, such as landscape architect Nell Whitehead Strong, San Jacinto Museum Director Dorothy Knepper, and Masonic monument sculptor Nellie Walker, also helped shape how the historic site tells the story of the Battle of San Jacinto.
Nell Whitehead Strong was identified in her obituary as the first female landscape architect to practice in Texas and built a successful firm under the name Mrs. C.B. Whitehead. In the early 1930s, she completed projects at federal buildings in Harlingen, TX and on the University of Texas campus. Her work at San Jacinto began on April 28, 1936, when the State Board of Control designated her as the project’s Landscape Architect; she signed her contract on July 14 of that year.
Whitehead Strong’s responsibilities as the battleground’s landscape architect were wide-ranging. She directed the Works Progress Administration labor force and prepared grading, utility, planting, and general layout plans. Additionally, she oversaw landscaping and coordinated care for the site’s historic trees and designed structural features such as paths and restrooms. The most visible surviving example of her work is the 1,755-foot reflection pool, which a 1938 Houston Post article described as the longest of its kind in the United States. She also coordinated construction of the 2,800-foot bulkhead along the San Jacinto River to prevent erosion.
Media interviews and letters reveal her commitment to preservation. In a 1937 Vernon Record interview, she explained the removal of Spanish moss from the site’s trees because “They need a breathing spell.” She warned that “these fine old native trees would have to be replaced were nothing done for them. Many were fully grown long before the battle of San Jacinto,” and that their loss “would be irreparable.” Through careful planning and preservation work, Whitehead Strong revitalized the battleground as a commemorative space.
Nellie Walker’s contribution to the memorialization of the battleground was a bronze statue atop the Masonic Monument. Referred to in official records as the 'Soldier of the Pioneer Period,' Walker designed the statue to represent a generic Masonic soldier who helped shape pioneer-era Texas, like the minimum of 87 Masons who fought on this battlefield. Walker was touted by the 1936 Houston Chronicle as “a sculptor of international fame” – and indeed, she was well-regarded for her public artworks, such as her James Harlan statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C. Walker’s contribution to the Masonic Monument was unveiled on April 21, 1936 before an audience of 5,000 Masons.
Dorothy Knepper made a lasting impact inside of the San Jacinto Monument as she served as the director of the San Jacinto Museum of History from 1944 to 1980. She stepped into the role in 1944 following the death of Ike Moore in World War II. Over her 35-year tenure, she spearheaded the museum through significant growth and modernization. According to the 1980 San Jacinto Advance, she developed procedures for collecting and cataloguing manuscripts, rare books, and artifacts which “helped build a distinguished reputation for the museum.” In addition, Knepper initiated a publishing program, many publications of which were distributed by the TEA.
Knepper was committed to keeping the museum aligned with modern standards. She extensively researched exhibit improvements and corresponded with institutions including the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Smithsonian Institution regarding industry topics such as photo mounting, copy machines, and UV protection for artifacts. Under her supervision, the monument received an improved elevator and the installation of air conditioning, enhancing both the preservation of collections and the experience of visitors.
Together, the work of Nell Whitehead Strong, Dorothy Knepper, Nellie Walker, and the many women who supported the battleground through heritage organizations demonstrates that the story of San Jacinto has been shaped both by those who fought in 1836 and those committed to its preservation and interpretation. From the landscape that frames the monument to the collections housed within it, women have left an enduring imprint on how visitors experience and understand this historic site. Their contributions, embedded in the physical and intellectual fabric of the battleground, remind us that preservation is an act of stewardship and storytelling, one in which women have played an important role.