Texas. The “Lone Star State”. The nickname was made notable by the single star on the state flag. Texas has a long history of notable flags. Have you ever been to a Six Flags theme park? It is said that the name comes from the six nations that once ruled over the state. The history … Read more
Scientifically named Lupinus texensis, the bluebonnet is the official flower of Texas and was adopted by the Texas state legislature in 1901. Also known as the buffalo clover, wolf flower, and “el conejo” (“rabbit” in Spanish), the vibrant sapphire blue petals are said to resemble the bonnets worn by pioneer women to shield them from the … Read more
Topaz is the Texas state gemstone as well as the birthstone for the month of November. It occurs naturally in many colors including blue, orange, brown, green, pink, beige and red. Colorless topaz, a common variation, can be treated by irradiation to produce a wide range of shades of blue. Thus treated, blue topaz is … Read more
Today, the seal of the state of Texas has developed into a uniform design with both a front (obverse) and a reverse side. By law, the seal is required to authenticate official documents of the state. The origins of the seal go back to the early days of the republic. The Obverse (Front) The Convention … Read more
Texas, Our Texas, the official state song of Texas, was adopted by the Legislature in 1929 after being selected in a state-wide competition. It was composed by William J. Marsh of Fort Worth. The lyrics were written by Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright.
The Monarch Butterfly became the Texas state insect by a 1995 resolution of the state legislature. The resolution was introduced by Representative Arlene Wohlgemuth on behalf of students in her district. The Monarch is unique among butterflies in that it is the only species of butterfly that does not hibernate, but migrates in changing seasons. … Read more
The pecan tree was signed into law as the state tree of Texas in 1919. Legend has it that Texas Governor, James Hogg, was particularly fond of the pecan tree and requested a pecan tree be planted on his grvesite. This inspired the Texas state legislature to adapt the pecan as the official Texas state … Read more
Texas State Capital It was back in 1839 when five mounted scouts rode across the Republic of Texas, looking for the perfect spot for a new capital city. On the north bank of the Colorado River, in a central location, was a little settlement of four families called Waterloo. In September of 1839, fifty ox-drawn … Read more
Texas is home to famous people, famous landmarks, famous experiences, and famous pride. If we had to narrow it down to just a few things that make Texas famous, we’d say the size, pride, food, history, and of course, longhorns. Below are 15 of our favorite things that attract over 7 million visitors to Texas … Read more
The Texas Quarter was the 28th coin to be issued in the 50 State Quarter Series from the United States Mint. The design of the quarter is meant to honor the qualities that make Texas great. The top of the Texas Quarter says “Texas” with the year 1845 underneath – because on December 29, 1845, … Read more