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Presidio San Saba, once known as Presidio San Luis de las Amarillas, a fortress constructed in 1757 and designed to protect Spanish interests in the region, including nearby Mission Santa Cruz de San Saba. The Mission never survived long enough to benefit from the Presidio’s proximity (and firearms), burning to the ground during a raid by a band of neighboring tribes only a year after it was established. The Presidio only lasted another decade and a half, abandoned by decree of the Viceroy of New Spain in 1772. Over one hundred and fifty years later, the 1936 Texas Centennial Commission contracted the reconstruction of the Presidio in an effort to recapture the region’s past, and the northwest portion of the Presidio rose once again. Today, Menard is helping to preserve and interpret the archeological remains that surround this community. Travelers may observe the ruins of the Presidio reconstruction where archeologists have spent several years uncovering artifacts pertaining to the site and the Spanish Colonial period in Texas. Interpreters are on-hand to answer questions and guide visitors. The site sits on almost 18 acres along the San Saba River where the native landscape has been restored and picnic tables and a pavilion are inviting respite for family gatherings.