Roadside highway turnout with historical marker Alonso De Leon Expeditions. Spain's desire to colonize this area of the new world in the late 17th century was spurred by the fear that french adventurer Rene La Salle, who had landed on the Texas coast in 1684 was claiming vast areas for its bitter rival France. In 1685 Spain's Mexican Viceroy directed Alonso De Leon to lead expeditons against french encroachment & protect Spain's claim by initiating the colonization of Texas Texas Tropical Trail (The Old Military Highway) Highway 281 as well as being called "The old Military Highway", and is part of the "Texas Tropical Trail" the highway is also part of "The Great Texas Birding Trail"