Aranama College

Goliad won the college with land. Lockhart and Victoria also bid, but Goliad offered the old mission grounds, a league of unsold town land, $1,000 and 20,000 acres from its citizens, and the Presbyterians hoped to reach Mexican families near the border. The college opened in September 1852 under Rev. William C. Blair and had about 100 students by 1860. Its Adelphian Literary Society debated in 1859 whether the United States should reopen the African slave trade. After the war the presbytery gave the property to the state in 1871 on condition that a penitentiary be built at Goliad.

What the plaque says

Aranama College Named for 18th century Indian converts of Mission Espiritu Santo de Zuniga. A men's college. Founded 1852 by Western Presbytery of Texas. Used buildings of old mission plus funds given by Goliad. Taught Latin, Greek, geography, surveying, bookkeeping, writing, reading, elementary and higher mathematics, English grammar and orthography. Closed--like most of Texas' 25 colleges--after the Civil War began (1861) and most students joined the Confederate Army. Had its buildings wrecked in the great storm of 1886. (1965)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Cattle Drive from La Bahia — steps away
• Site of the Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga — steps away
• General Ignacio Zaragoza — 0.7 mi
• John Mason Brewer — 0.7 mi