As this 1970s government film segment explains, Stephen F. Austin State Park is "rich in historical significance." In 1821, the Mexican government authorized Stephen F. Austin to settle 300 Anglo American families in Texas. The resulting colony was the first and largest settlement of its kind in Mexican Texas. The parkland encompasses the area that once served as the colony's capital, San Felipe de Austin, on the banks of the Brazos River. Visitors can learn more about the township's importance to Texas history at the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, located within the park, or enjoy recreational opportunities like hiking, camping, and birdwatching.