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Aug 16, 1519
Alonso Alvarez de Pineda maps Texas
Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda maps Texas coastline. -
Mar 2, 1554
Coronado dies.
Coronado dies. He is one of the first white men to explore Texas, and leader of one of 20 Spanish explorations of the area. -
Thanksgiving is held near present-day El Paso
Thanksgiving is held near present-day El Paso by Juan de Oñate, the members of his expedition and natives of the region. -
Jumano Indians requested Spanish missionaries from New Mexico
Jumano Indians requested Spanish missionaries from New Mexico to travel to the vicinity of present-day San Angelo and instruct the Jumanos about Christianity. -
first french map of texas
La Salle drew the first French map of texas.AFTER La Salle had taken the steps necessary to secure his colony from the Indians, Joutel was left in command of the fort, and La Salle, with a company of twenty men, set out, about the last of October, 1685, on an expedition to explore the country. The Belle was ordered to the upper end of Matagorda bay, where she was stationed, and directed to remain till further orders. La Salle, dividing his company, some of them went down the Lavaca in canoes, an -
French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, looking for the mouth of the Mississippi River
French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, looking for the mouth of the Mississippi River, lands in Texas by mistake. He establishes a colony, Fort St. Louis, on Garcitas Creek in present-day Victoria County. -
First East Texas mission under construction,
First East Texas mission under construction, San Francisco de los Tejas, near present-day Weches, Houston Co. The mission is closed in 1693. -
Comanches and Alambama Coushatts arive in texas
The comanches and Alabama Coushatts arive in Texas in the 1700's. The month ,day, and year is unknown. -
Santa Cruz de San Sabá mission near present-day Menard
Santa Cruz de San Sabá mission near present-day Menard destroyed and eight residents killed by Comanches and their allies. -
Spanish troops on a retaliatory raid are defeated by Indian residents
Spanish troops on a retaliatory raid are defeated by Indian residents of a large encampment at Spanish Fort in present-day Montague County. -
Group of settlers led by Antonio Gil Ybarbo establishes a civilian community
Group of settlers led by Antonio Gil Ybarbo (sometimes spelled Ibarvo or Y'barvo) establishes a civilian community near an abandoned mission site; the new town is called Nacogdoches. -
Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costillo and several hundred of his parishioners seize the prison at Dolores,
Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costillo and several hundred of his parishioners seize the prison at Dolores, Mexico, beginning Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain. -
the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition crossed the Sabine
About 130-men strong, the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition crossed the Sabine from Louisiana in a rebel movement against Spanish rule in Texas. -
Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government
Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River. Mexican officials approve Austin's plan to bring three hundred families into his colony. This group becomes known as the "Old Three Hundred." -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence of the republic of Fredonia is signed at Nacogdoches. -
Comanches, led by a dozen chiefs, meet with officials of Texas government to negotiate a peace treaty.
Comanches, led by a dozen chiefs, meet with officials of Texas government to negotiate a peace treaty. Believing the Comanches to have reneged on a promise to release all white prisoners, the Texans take the chiefs prisoner. During the Council House fight that follows, 35 Comanches are killed, as are seven Texans. -
German immigrants
About 68 Union loyalists, mostly German immigrants from the area of Comfort, in Central Texas, start for Mexico in an attempt to reach US troops; 19 are killed by Confederates on the Nueces River. Eight others are killed on Oct. 18 at the Rio Grande. Others drown attempting to swim the river. Their deaths are commemorated in Comfort by the Treue der Union (True to the Union) monument. -
The Battle of Palmito Ranch is fought near Brownsville
The Battle of Palmito Ranch is fought near Brownsville, after the official end of the Civil War, because word of the war's end at Appomattox on April 9 has not yet reached troops in Texas. -
Dedliest U.S. and Texas hurricane
On September 8, 1900, a hurricane struck Galveston. Winds estimated at 140 mph swept over the island, leaving devastation in their wake. After the storm surge of 15.7 feet subsided, Galvestonians left their shelters to find 6,000 of the city's 37,000 residents dead and more than 3,600 buildings totally destroyed. The 1900 Storm is still considered to be the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. After the storm, Galveston constructed a seawall and raised the grade of the island to protect -
One of the worst Texas tornadoes
A cyclone, considered one of the two most disastrous in Texas history, struck Goliad on Sunday, May 18, 1902. The twister touched down on the south side of the San Antonio River at 3:35 p. m. Sounding like a heavily loaded freight train, the storm ripped a mile long, half-mile wide path across the northwest section of town, destroying over 100 homes and leaving an official death toll of 114. At least 50 members of a black Methodist church died when their sanctuary was razed. After the disaster, -
worst dust storm in U.S. history on "Black Sunday"
It is the worst dust storm in Texas history. On Black Sunday it happend. people trapped in there houses from the storm. the storm lasted a while. many people died. -
longest heat wave in Texas
The heat wave lasted 88 days with an average temp. of 120.1°F. -
Siege that began on Feb. 28 ended, federal agents storm the compound called Mount Carmel
Siege that began on Feb. 28 ended, federal agents storm the compound called Mount Carmel near Waco, where cult leader David Koresh and his followers, called Branch Davidians, had reportedly been storing a large cache of assault weapons. The assault and ensuing fire kill four agents and 86 Branch Davidians.
