Texana

Bum Phillips made his mark as a legendary Texas high school football coach, and later as an NFL coach with both the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. But there was more to the man than wins and losses on…
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Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady, was born on December 22, 1912, in Karnack, Texas, which sits 58 miles south of Texarkana and 166 miles east of Dallas. She served as first lady during the presidential administration of her…
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Many Texas and Western aficionados have seen the iconic photo of Judge Roy Bean’s saloon in Langtry, in Southwest Texas, where he promoted himself as the law West of the Pecos. Bean (1825-1903) was born in Kentucky. He came to…
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Any list of show business stars that went into politics would have to include Wilbert Lee O’Daniel. One might say he sang his way into the Texas Governor’s Mansion. He didn’t set out to be either a singer or politician….
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Back in the 19th Century in Texas, if you wanted your community to survive and thrive—to make it—your community needed railroad service. Not to say that a community couldn’t survive without a railroad. For example, the town of Independence, where…
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Most people know the Texas state seal, which originated as the Republic of Texas seal. It has a lone star with an olive branch, representing peace, and an oak branch, representing strength. But not everyone knows about the reverse side…
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Think of the term “horned frog” and chances are you think of the Texas Christian University mascot. But there’s more to horned frogs—or, more correctly, horned lizards—than simply being a proud mascot in purple. To begin with, there are three types…
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Every building tells stories about the people it is meant to serve, and the people who serve in it. It also gives insight into the people who designed it. Elijah E. Meyers (1832-1909), the architect responsible for the Texas Capitol…
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Barton Springs is famous for its cool, natural water, and for being a popular swimming hole during the hot Texas summers. Barton Springs is also famous for its salamanders. According to the City of Austin website, the Barton Springs salamander…
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The summer heat is here and it’s time to visit a favorite Austin swimming hole, Barton Springs. The Barton Springs pool is in Zilker Park, which is named for Austin philanthropist Andrew Jackson Zilker (1858-1934). Zilker was the last private…
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