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On April 21, 1836, the Texas Revolution came to an end following a decisive victory by General Sam Houston's Texian Army over the Mexican troops led by Santa Anna. The site of the Battle of San Jacinto is located in modern-day La Porte, east of Houston near Galveston Bay. Today, visitors can learn more about this pivotal chapter of Texas history by visiting the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield.

Earlier this year, the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association received a major grant from Humanities Texas to support their annual San Jacinto Day Celebration and a mini-grant for their ongoing lecture series, History Under the Star. Members of our grants team spoke with Director of Development Kali Ellis to discuss the organization's mission and recent programming.

Interview with Director of Development Kali Ellis

Please tell us about your organization.
The San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history and legacy of the Battle of San Jacinto. We are located within the San Jacinto Monument on the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. We have exhibitions, educational programming, and public events that highlight the cultural, political, and military narratives that shaped Texas.

Can you tell us about your role within the organization?
I've been with the San Jacinto Museum for three years now. I oversee funding and memberships, help develop programming, and get things going every day. With small nonprofits, you do a bit of everything and wear a lot of hats, but my main focus is doing programs and getting grants and funding, as well as finding areas to improve and expand. Additionally, I aim to get the public invested in what we do and increase accessibility. A lot of our programs bring in scholars, and we have been able to make those events free for people.

What led you to a career in the humanities?
I've worked in the museum and nonprofit sector for fifteen years, and my path began with a degree in history. I was drawn to the field because of its power to preserve collective memory and foster community identity. A few years ago, I received my full certification in genealogy, so I do a lot of family histories and preserving history. It's a big thing in my life, personally and professionally. Over time, I’ve had the privilege of assisting in the development of programs that make history accessible and relevant to today’s audiences. This is so important to me—to make sure people of all ages can understand and connect with history. Working with cultural institutions to keep history alive has been a central focus of my career and continues to drive my work at the San Jacinto Museum.

The San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association was awarded a mini-grant to support the History Under the Star lecture series. Could you tell us a bit about this program?
This is a lecture series that we do four times a year. Our next one is on November 8. We bring scholars from all across Texas; they'll come in and speak and do a question-and-answer session. The event itself lasts about an hour, and they're usually well attended. The History Under the Star series really offers a chance for people to come and speak to a scholar about a history topic they're interested in. In August, we focused on weapons, and the one we had before that was focused on women in the Texas Revolution. 

What advice would you give to a young humanities professional?
I would say to stay with it—if you're passionate about it, just stay with it. So many people will try to discourage you. When I told professors that I wanted to focus on history more than education, I was discouraged and told I wouldn't find a job. It can be hard to break into the museum field but just push hard and get internships and connections where you can. It's a very rewarding career. 

On November 8, 2025, the San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield Association will hold the next program in their History Under the Star lecture series. Author Gregg J. Dimmick will present an in-depth discussion based on his upcoming book Santa Anna's Army in the Texas Revolution: 1835, which serves as the first volume in a comprehensive three-part series. Attendees will have the chance to engage with Dimmick and ask questions about his research process and findings. For more information, visit the Museum's website.