History

Texas History Timeline

  • The “Great Hurricane”

    The “Great Hurricane”
    The “Great Hurricane,” destroys much of Galveston and kills 6,000 people there.
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    Texas History Timeline

  • Oil found

    Oil found
    Oil found by mining engineer Capt. A.F. Lucas at Spindle top near Beaumont catapults Texas into petroleum age.
  • Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois

    Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois
    Lt. Benjamin D. Foulois makes the first military air flight in a Wright brothers plane at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
  • World War I

    World War I
    World War I
  • The Democratic National Convention

    The Democratic National Convention
    The Democratic National Convention is held in Houston, the first nominating convention held in a Southern City since 1860.
  • The league of United Latin America citizens

    The league of United Latin America citizens
    The league of United Latin America citizens (LULAC) is founded in Corpus Christi.
  • The Daisy Bradford #3 well

    The Daisy Bradford #3 well
    The Daisy Bradford #3 well, drilled near Turner Town in Rusk County by wildcatter C.M. (Dad) Joiner, blows in, heralding the discovery of the huge East Texas Oil Field.
  • Texas Centennial Exposition

    Texas Centennial Exposition
    Texas Centennial Exposition opens at Dallas’ Fair Park; it runs until Nov. 29.
  • World War II

    World War II
    World War II.
  • A race riot in Beaumont

    A race riot in Beaumont
    A race riot in Beaumont leads to a declaration or marital arts.
  • The University of Texas Medical Branch

    The University of Texas Medical Branch
    The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston admits its first black student.
  • Texas women

    Texas women
    Texas women gain the right to serve on juries.
  • Integrated circuit

    Integrated circuit
    Integrated circuit, developed by Jack Kilby at Texas Instruments, Dallas, is successfully tested, ushering in the semiconductor and electronics age.
  • John Tower

    John Tower
    John Tower wins special election for US Senate, becoming the first Republican senator from Texas since Reconstruction.
  • NASA

    NASA
    NASA opens the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. The center moves to a new campus-like building complex in 1964. It is renamed Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center on Aug. 17, 1973.
  • President John F. Kennedy

    President John F. Kennedy
    President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas; vice president Lyndon B. Johnson succeeds to the office, becoming the 36th US president.
  • Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

    Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
    Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) were incorporated in Texas; its first national office is San Antonio.
  • Apollo 11

    Apollo 11
    Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong transmits the first words from the surface of the moon: “Houston, the Eagle has landed.”
  • The Sharpstown Scandal

    The Sharpstown Scandal
    The Sharpstown Scandal results in the conviction of House speaker Gus Mutscher and two associates for conspiracy and bribery.
  • William Clements

    William Clements
    William Clements becomes the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction.
  • Tornadoes

    Tornadoes
    Several tornadoes kill 53 in West Texas, including 42 in Wichita Falls, and cause $400 million in damages.
  • The National Republican Convention

    The National Republican Convention
    The National Republican Convention is held in Dallas.
  • Houstonian George Bush

    Houstonian George Bush
    Houstonian George Bush is elected president of the United States.
  • Ann Richards

    Ann Richards
    Democrat Ann Richards became the first woman governor of Texas in her own right.
  • Texas Gov. George W. Bush

    Texas Gov. George W. Bush
    Former Texas Gov. George W. Bush elected President of the United States.