Texas state flag

Texas Timeline

  • Jan 1, 1519

    Discovery

    Discovery
    Alvarez de Pineda of Spain discovered the territory that would later be known as Texas in 1519.
  • French Colonization

    French Colonization
    René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle established the French colony of Fort Saint Louis near Matagorda Bay in 1682. The French would keep this colony until 1689.
  • Spanish Territory

    Spanish Territory
    Spanish authorities funded multiple expeditions to find and eliminate the French colonization, In March 1690, Alonso De León led an expedition to establish a mission in East Texas. Texas became a Spanish territory and would continue to be for over a century.
  • Mexican Statehood

    Mexican Statehood
    When Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, Mexican Texas was part of the new nation. It would continue to be a Mexican state until 1836.
  • First Violence - Battle of Velasco

    First Violence - Battle of Velasco
    The Battle of Velasco was the first battle in which the "rebel" Texans and the Mexicans fought, it was a Texan victory.
  • The Battle of the Alamo

    The Battle of the Alamo
    The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops launched an assault on the Alamo Mission and won the battle.
  • Texas Declaration of Independence

    Texas Declaration of Independence
    The formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution was signed on March 2, 1836.
  • the Republic of Texas

    the Republic of Texas
    The Texas Revolution on April 21, 1836 and Texas became the Republic of Texas. It would continue to be the Republic of Texas until being annexed by the United states in 1845.
  • Annexed by the United States

    Annexed by the United States
    Texas became the 28th state to be admitted to the United States on December 29, 1845.
  • Secession from the Union

    Secession from the Union
    Texas seceded from the Union on February 1, 1861 and was the 7th state to do so. After the Civil War, it would be the 10th state to readmit.
  • Readmission to the Union

    Readmission to the Union
    On March 30, 1870, Texas was the 10th state to readmit to the Union after the American Civil War.
  • First College in Texas

    First College in Texas
    The first public institution of higher education in Texas, Texas A&M University opened its doors on October 4, 1876.
  • Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900

    Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900
    The Galveston, Texas Hurricane of 1900 is to date the deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the United States. It claimed more lives than the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane and Hurricane Katrina combined.
  • First Professional Football Team

    First Professional  Football Team
    The Dallas Cowboys were the first professional football team to play in Texas. The Cowboys were established in 1960 and since then have earned five super bowl championships.
  • First Professional Baseball Team

    First Professional Baseball Team
    The first professional baseball team in Texas was the Texas Rangers. The Rangers were the Washington Senators (1861) before they moved to Minnesota and became the Twins. After the 1971 season, the new team moved to Arlington, Texas and debuted as the Rangers the following spring.