Gonzales, TX, USA – November 17, 2025 – The world’s first permanent, narrative-driven, live-action projection mapping film, Texas Legacy in Lights, premiered to a sold-out crowd and universal acclaim on October 2, 2025, as part of Gonzales’ 200th anniversary celebration. The event drew over 2,000 attendees — including Mayor Isaac Anzaldua, Texas state legislators, and visitors from as far away as Canada and Kansas — to the Gonzales Memorial Museum, where the 34-minute show illuminated the historic façade in a breathtaking tribute to the birthplace of the Texas Revolution. The event drew praise from every corner, with Texas Legacy in Lights earning all five-star reviews on Google within days of opening.
Mayor Isaac Anzaldua, who welcomed guests alongside city officials and community partners, described the evening as a defining moment for Gonzales:
“This is absolutely wonderful. It’s a great experience for our city. Everybody here seems to be enjoying themselves and with this, they begin to understand where they came from. We still embody the same spirit of ‘come and take it’ that they had back in 1835.”
The premiere was attended by numerous notable guests, including the Mayor of Gonzales, City Manager Tim Crow, Texas legislators, and leaders from surrounding counties. The city received national and state recognition, including a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol and a proclamation from Senator Lois Kolkhorst to honor Gonzales’ 200-year legacy.
City Manager Tim Crow praised the film’s impact:
“Everybody has been really excited about this night. This film is second to none. It’s phenomenal—and every Texan should come and see this. What better way to celebrate the city’s bicentennial?”
Produced and directed by John Franklin Rinehart, a seventh-generation Gonzales native, Texas Legacy in Lights uses advanced 3D projection mapping, custom sound design by a former NASA engineer, and cinematic storytelling to recreate the spirit of 1835 and the dawn of Texas independence.
Rinehart called the premiere a full-circle moment:
“I can’t tell you what it means that this night is finally here. What a great crowd that has turned out to see this, which is a huge part of these people’s history. This allows them to see where they came from and what it took to get here. I’m very proud to be able to present this to them.”
Actors from the production were also in attendance, including Peggy Schott (Sarah DeWitt, Vindication, Fear the Walking Dead), who called the experience deeply personal:
“I had family in Texas before the revolution who were there, and I was so excited to join this project. It’s hard to find stories of the women from that time. I’m honored to play Sarah DeWitt and to tell her story in a way that will inspire people for years to come.”
Fellow cast member Kelby C. McCan, who portrayed Colonel John Henry Moore, added:
“People are going to be seeing this for many, many years, and I can’t tell you what an honor it was to be a part of it. Tonight was certainly a ‘come and take it’ moment. The city invested a lot and should be applauded—it’s a culmination of their faith and their spirit.”
Noted economic development leader and podcaster “Super” Dave Quinn called the show “world-class storytelling in small-town Texas,” while Julie Roller Weeks, Tourism Director for the City of Abilene, described it as “a must-see celebration of Texas heritage.”
The premiere drew coverage from The Victoria Advocate, The Austin Chronicle, and numerous travel outlets, all praising Gonzales for its innovation in heritage tourism.
Texas Legacy in Lights will continue showing Tuesday through Sunday at 8:25 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. at the Gonzales Memorial Museum (414 Smith St.). With its combination of history, artistry, and community pride, the production is poised to become one of Texas’ most memorable and enduring attractions.
“One hundred years from now,” Mayor Anzaldua said, “our community will look back and see how we continued to embody the Come and Take It spirit — a spirit of determination, love, and peace. To know that we share a part in shaping the future of our great city is exciting and very rewarding.”
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