A look at the construction of the first Texas Tejano monument, to be placed at the State Captiol in Austin. (credit: The Tejano Monument)

AUSTIN (AP) - The state’s top officials will dedicate the first monument on the Capitol grounds honoring the contributions of Tejanos.

The Thursday morning unveiling on the south lawn of the statehouse recognizes the important role played by Tejanos. They were the state’s Spanish-speaking pioneers who were the first to bring European culture to what would later become the Lone Star state.

Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other leader are expected to attend.

At 525 square feet, the monument will be among the largest on the Capitol grounds. Mounted on a 250-ton slab of pink granite, bronze statues depict a Spanish explorer, a vaquero on his mustang, a longhorn bull and cow and a family of settlers. A series of plaques will tell the story of Tejano history.

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