Col. Fannin's men were held captive here for a week before they were executed by Santa Anna's men.   It is said that there were so many men in the chapel, that most had to stand until the non-wounded were moved outside to the quadrangle.

The first Declaration of Texas Independence was signed in this chapel on 20 December 1835.

"...Resolved that the former province and department of Texas is a free, sovereign, and independent State...[with] all the powers, faculties, attributes, and immunities of other independent nations."