Velasco stood at the mouth of the Brazos River, near present-day Surfside Beach and Quintana. Mexican authorities built a fort there in 1832 to serve as a customs port of entry, enforcing immigration and trade restrictions on American settlers under the Law of April 6, 1830; the location made it a natural point for controlling river and Gulf Coast traffic entering Austin's colony. A second, stronger fort was built there in late 1835 and early 1836 during the Texas Revolution. Following the decisive Texas victory at San Jacinto, ad interim President David G. Burnet and captured Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna met at Velasco to negotiate an end to hostilities. On May 14, 1836, they signed a public treaty and a secret companion agreement, together known as the Treaties of Velasco, under which Santa Anna promised to withdraw Mexican troops and recognize Texas independence, though Mexico's government later repudiated the agreements. Velasco briefly served as the seat of the new Republic of Texas government from May through October 1836, offering available housing and naval protection while other towns lay in ruins from the Runaway Scrape. No fort or original townsite survives today; the location is preserved chiefly through historical markers near Surfside Beach and Quintana and periodic reenactments commemorating the signing as the diplomatic conclusion of the Texas Revolution.