Columbia (now West Columbia) was the capital of Texas on October 22, 1836. On that day, Sam Houston, the first president of the new Texas Republic, gave his inaugural address on the steps of the original Capitol. The inauguration had been scheduled for December, but ad interim president David Burnet resigned unexpectedly, leaving Houston just two hours to prepare his speech. This site will be developed as the home to a replica of the original Capitol building and a park with a path connecting a series of monuments that commemorate the history of this area.