After the Battle of San Jacinto, the ad interim government of the new Republic of Texas first convened in this building, also known as the American Hotel, and met with the imprisoned Santa Anna. George B. Erath passed through Velasco in April 1833 and observed a two-story structure under construction that soon became a hotel and tavern operated by Jeremiah Brown, his brother-in-law Isaac C. Hoskins, and their wives. Mirabeau Lamar stayed there in September 1835 and left a harsh account of the establishment, its food, and its keepers. From May to October 1836, Velasco served as the seat of government until it moved to Columbia about 30 miles upriver, and although the accommodations here were modest, they were the best available after the Battle of San Jacinto. Near this spot on Lots 3-6 of Velasco Block 11, and protected by nearby Fort Velasco and the new Texas Navy, the relatively few officers who composed the government met here to conduct the business of the new Republic of Texas.