TribBlog: Tejano Monument Finally Coming to the Capitol

The State Preservation Board today approved installation of a Texas Tejano Monument on the south lawn of the Capitol. The project has already taken nearly a decade. Lawmakers approved a resolution to establish the monument in 2001. In 2007, the Legislature set aside more than $1 million to complete the project, and last year, the passage of HB4114 allowed installation of the monument. The non-profit Tejano Monument Inc., also put in about $600,000 for the project.

With the board's approval today, the monument, which is already constructed, will be installed some time in the next two years. Sculptor Armando Hinojosa has already completed the 33-foot-long monument that depicts 11 symbols of Tejano heritage.

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and author of HB4114, said getting the monument approved has been a long, uphill battle. "Today is a good day for Texas Latinos. Today is a good day for Texas," he said.