El Camino Surreal
Austin, From El Camino Real de los Tejas Crankie Suite, illustrated by Valerie Fowler
El Camino Real de los Tejas is a network of ancient Native American roads, later used by the Spanish, French and Anglo settlers of Texas. It is one of 21 “National Historic Trails” administered by the National Park Service. It passes right through Austin, and almost no one knows about it. We can help change that.
Perhaps you are now saying “But I’ve never even HEARD of El Camino Real de los Tejas!” No need to worry. It’s pretty hard to learn anything about the pre Anglo-colonial history of this area. “Austin” was founded in 1839, three years after the founding of the Texas Republic. The popular version of this place’s history is very “post Alamo”, shall we say. But El Camino Real de los Tejas has long connected us to Mexico via San Antonio, and Louisiana via Nacogdoches, well before it was rebranded by the Spanish at the dawn of the 1700’s.
Austin’s endless re-invention of itself tends to obscure the older local stories, big and small… the deeper, knotted roots that makes up the place’s fabric.
San Antonio, from “El Camino Real de los Tejas Crankie Suite” Illustrated by Valerie Fowler
A Texas History Palate Cleanser
If you enjoy Texas History, but get triggered when a dude in a period costume starts yelling about the Alamo, take heart! El Camino Real de los Tejas is an inclusive Texas history palate cleanser. A renewed awareness of the Spanish Colonial and Native American history of our area is just beginning to blossom. Austin Parks and Recreation sponsored a project about Indigenous Austin called “To Relate” which concisely guides you through some complicated Native American Texas histories. (Kudos to Amy Heath and Jennifer Chenoweth!) Research about our own Onion Creek Metropolitan Park’s relationship to El Camino is underway, and fundraising continues. More and more groups like the Indigenous Cultures Institute in San Marcos and Tap Pilam in San Antonio are celebrating and helping to define the living Native American relationship to Tejano culture. El Camino Real ties together the entire history of Texas. (Spoiler alert… the Alamo is on El Camino)
Creating a community based pride around Austin’s place on El Camino Real de los Tejas
We need local folks to help preserve and promote our own known and undiscovered connections to El Camino Real, and the deeper history of Tejas. Elected officials, fundraising savants, businesses and communities should all embrace the importance of El Camino Real de los Tejas as a living example of our shared history in this beautiful, vibrant city. We should work together to preserve and promote our stretch of El Camino. I am especially appealing to our creative class to get involved. Writers, artists, film folks, dancers, musicians, web designers… Anyone who wants to help give voice to El Camino. (It’s that voice that’s been whispering to you, from the soil right under your feet…. ) We are located on an ancient indigenous interstate road connecting us not only to Mexico City and Central and South America, but also Louisiana, Natchez, Nashville and beyond. This has been a nice spot to live and a place known to travelers from afar for thousands of years. People have long carried their customs and objects through this lovely well watered locale. This is part of why this place feels special.
Now we are evolving into a BIG city, and our landscape is changing daily. The sooner we start protecting the existing traces of this old road, the better. Imagine Camino related paths and signage integrated into the city’s planned network of bike trails. Camino related murals by neighborhood artists in Montopolis and East Austin. By promoting and interpreting our connection to El Camino, we could greatly enrich the historical spirit of this rapidly evolving city.
A better grounding in our past should help inform what sort of "Big City” we’re going to become. We can create the culture, and give voice to El Camino… an ancient treasure hiding in Austin’s secret heart. It’s time to acknowledge this gift, and to say THANK YOU!
Onion Creek rises, Mckinney Falls, from El Camino Real de los Tejas Crankie Suite, illustrated by Valerie Fowler.
Brian Beattie has been in the Austin music universe for 43 years, and he is a super fan of El Camino Real de los Tejas. He was co-leader of the band Glass Eye from ’83 to ’93. In 1988, while his bandmates were appearing in Richard Linklater’s “Slacker”, Brian was producing The Dead Milkmen’s “Punk Rock Girl” at Arlyn Studios, 200 yards from his present home. He’s worked with Daniel Johnston, Kathy McCarty, Okkervil River, Bill Callahan and many others. His latest project is a time traveling multi media musical called “El Camino Real de los Tejas Crankie Suite”, lavishly illustrated on a 100 foot scroll by Valerie Fowler.