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Apr 15, 1528
Cabeza de Vaca Exploration
Cabeza de Vaca explores the Texas interior on his way to Mexico. -
Feb 23, 1540
Francisco de Coronado Expedition
In search of the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado lead an expedition across northern Texas. He followed the Sinaloan coast northward, keeping the Sea of Cortez to his left until he reached the northernmost Spanish settlement, San Miguel de Culiacán, about March 28, 1540, where he rested his expedition -
Jumano Indians
The Jumano Indians are a prominent indigenous tribe or several tribes, who inhabited a large area of western Texas. Jumano Indians requested Spanish missionaries from New Mexico to travel to San Angelo and instruct them about Christianity. -
Cavelier claims Texas
Texas claimed by the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle for France in 1685. -
Jose de Escandon founds Nuevo Santander
José de Escandón was a Spanish Indian-fighter in New Spain and the founder and first governor of the colony of Nuevo Santander, Nuevo Santander extended from the Pánuco River to the Guadalupe River in the state of Texas. -
Start of the Mexican War of Independence
An armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities in Texas. From 1815 to 1821 most of the fighting by those seeking independence from Spain was done by isolated guerrilla bands. As a result, the first Mexican Empire declared indepdence from Spain. -
First U.S. Colonists Settle Texas
In 1821, Stephen F. Austin fulfilled his father's plan to establish a colony in Texas. He was known as the Father of Texas because he brought over 300 families to Texas. The state capital is named after him. -
1st "Telegraph and Texas Register"
Gail Borden published the "Telegraph and Texas Register" newspaper. The newspaper was first published in 1835 and had the highest circulation of any Texas newspaper. -
The Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers were unofficially created by Stephen F. Austin in a call-to-arms written in 1823. They were first headed by Captain Morris. Since 1935, the organization has been a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety; it fulfills the role of Texas's state bureau of investigation. -
The Alamo
A pivotal event in the Texas revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican General Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar. All of the Texian defenders were killed. -
Texas Declaration of Independence
The formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico during the Texas Revolution. It was adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836 -
The Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas formed as a separate nation after gaining independence from Mexico in 1836. On December 29, 1845, The United States Congress approved the Texas state constitution and Texas was admitted as a state.The Republic of Texaswas in existence for nine years, eleven months, and seventeen days. -
The Mexican-American War
The Mexican American War was an armed conflict between the United States of America and the United Mexican States from 1846 to 1848. -
Secession of Texas
The U.S. state of Texas declared its secession from the United States on February 1, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America on March 2, 1861, replacing its governor, Sam Houston, when he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. -
The Battle of Galveston
A naval and land battle that occurred on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War when Confederate forces attacked and expelled Union troops from the city of Galveston, Texas. The First Battle of Galveston was a naval engagement fought during early Union attempts to blockade Galveston Harbor. -
Battle of Sabine Pass
The Battle of Sabine Pass took place on September 8, 1863, and was the result of a Union expedition into Confederate-controlled Texas during the American Civil War. The battle has been credited as the most one-sided Confederate victory during the war. -
The Battle of Palmito Ranch
The Battle of Palmito Ranch was fought on May 13, 1865, shortly after the end of the American Civil War. The battle was fought on the banks of the Rio Grande about 12 miles east of Brownsville, Texas. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday in the United States that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas in 1865. Celebrated on June 19 and is recognized as a state holiday. -
1st Fiesta San Antonio
Fiesta San Antonio is an annual spring festival held in San Antonio, Texas, USA with origins dating to the late 19th century. The festival began as a single event to honor the memory of the battles of The Alamo and San Jacinto. -
Galveston Hurricane
On September 8th, 1900 a hurricane hit Galveston taking the lives of 6,00-10,000 people. This is still the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. -
Pattillo Higgins
Pattillo Higgins was the first person to discover gas bubbles in Texas. When he poked his cane into the ground, gas escaped. This visit convinced him that there was oil under Big Hill . This discovery lead to the birth of the oil industry in Texas. -
Preservation of the Alamo
In 1905, Clara Driscoll, a Texas-born philanthropist provided the money to preserve the Alamo Mission in San Antonio. Clara continued to work on behalf of the Alamo for the rest of her life. In 1931, she again put up $70,000 of her own money to help the state legislature purchase more city property surrounding the Alamo -
Audie Murphy in WWII
Many Texans participated in WWII, including Audie Murphy. Murphy was the nation's most decorated soldier of the war with 33 awards and medals. He served in the Mediterranean and European Theater of Operations. He was presented the Medal of Honor and several other decorations for heroism. He brought pride to the state of Texas. -
1st Strawberry Festival
The Poteet Rotary Club started a Texas tradition when it organized the 1st Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival in 1948. The annual event now draws crowds of over of 100,000 people. -
Wallace Jefferson becomes Chief Justice
Jefferson is the chief justice of the Supreme Court in TX. In 2001, Governor Rick Perry appointed him the first African American Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and then again in 2004.
