Texas Department of Economic & Development, Tourism Division,
P O
Box 12728, Austin, TX 78711; 512-462-0101; 800-888-8839; Fax: 512-320-9456.
Web: http://www.traveltex.com
and http://www.tsl.state.tx.us.
Texas Travel Industry Association, 812
San Antonio Street #401, Austin, TX 78701; 512-476-4472. Web:
http://www.ttia.org.
State Air Force: Commemorative Air Force
State Bird: mockingbird
State Bread: pan de campo
State Cooking Implement: cast iron Dutch oven
State Dinosaur: Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleuroceolus
State Dish: chili con carne
State Dog Breed: blue lacy
State Epic Poem: Legend of Old Stone Ranch
State Fabric: cotton
State Fiber: cotton
State Fish: Guadalupe bass
State Flower: bluebonnet
State Flower Song: Bluebonnets
State Folk Dance: square dance
State Fruit: Texas red grapefruit
State Gem: Texas blue topaz
State Gemstone Cut: Lone Star cut
State Grass: sideoats grama
State Health Nut: pecan
State Insect: monarch butterfly
State Light Bulb: compact florescent bulb
State Flying Mammal: Mexican free-tailed bat
State Large Mammal: Texas longhorn
State Small Mammal: armadillo
State Motto: Friendship
State Musical Instrument: guitar
State Nickname: Lone Star State
State Pastries: sopaipilla and strudel
State Native Pepper: chiltepin
State Pepper: jalapeρo
State Plant: prickly pear cactus
State Quarter:
State Reptile: horned lizard
State Seal:
State Shell: lightning whelk
State Tall Ship: Elissa
State Ship: U.S.S. Texas
State Native Shrub: Texas purple sage
State Shrub: crape myrtle
State Slogan: Texas: It's like a whole other country.
State Snack: tortilla chips and salsa
State Song: Texas, Our Texas
State Sport: rodeo
State Stone: petrified palmwood
State Tartan: 
State Tree: pecan
State Vegetable: sweet onion
State Vehicle: chuck wagon
State Capitals
Los Adaes, Texas (now in Louisiana) Colonial capital (1721-1772).
San Antonio de Bexar, Texas Colonial capital (1772-1824).
Saltillo, Coahulia First capital of Coahuila y Tejas (1824-1833).
Monclova, Coahulia Capital of Coahuila y Tejas (1833-1836).
Nacogdoches, Texas Nacogdoches Visitors
Bureau, 200 E Main Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961; 888-oldest-town.
Web: http://www. visitnacogdoches.org. The oldest town in Texas. In 1812, Bernado Gutierrez and
Augustus Magee proclaimed the first Republic of Texas (but were defeated in San Antonio). In 1819, Dr. James Long led
another independence movement when he set up a provisional government in Nacogdoches (but was driven back to
Louisiana). In 1826, Nacogdoches became the capital of the Fredonia Rebellion led by Haden Edwards (the rebellion failed).
Goliad, Texas Goliad State
Historic Site; 361-645-3405. On December 20, 1835, the occupiers
of the Presidio La Bahia at Goliad, Texas declared their independence and flew the first Texas flag.
Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park, P O Box 305, Washington, Texas 77880-0305; 936-878-2214.
Email: washington.brazos@tpwd. state.tx.us.
Web: http://www.birthplaceoftexas. com. The
Texas declaration of independence was made here on March 2, 1836.
Laredo, Texas Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, 1005 Zaragoza, Laredo, Texas 78040; 956-727-3480.
In 1840, this building served as the headquarters of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande, which seceded from Mexico. The Republic
lasted for 293 days, from January 17, 1840 to November 6, 1840.
Marshall, Texas Confederate capital.
Galveston, Texas Temporary capital of the Republic of Texas.
Harrisburg, Texas Temporary capital of the Republic of Texas.
Velasco, Texas Temporary capital of the Republic of Texas.
San Antonio, Texas Home of the provincial governor.
West Columbia, Texas City of West
Columbia, City Hall, 512 East Brazos, West Columbia, Texas; 979-345-3123; Fax:
979-345-3178. Web:
http://www.westcolumbia.org. The first capital of the Republic of Texas, from September
to December 1836. The first congress convened under a triple-trunk live
oak known as Independence Tree. Sam Houston was inaugurated as president and
Stephen Austin as secretary of state. A replica of the first capital is located at 14th and Hamilton.
Houston, Texas Capital of the Republic of Texas (1837-1839).
Austin, Texas Texas Capitol Visitors
Center, 112 East 11th Street, P. O. Box 13286, Austin, Texas 78711;
512-305-8400; Fax: 512-305-8401. Email:
cvc.cvc@tspb.state.tx.us. Web:
http://www.tspb.state.tx.us. Capital of Texas since 1846.
State Songs
Texas, Our Texas; Yellow Rose of Texas; Deep in the Heart of Texas; Planet Texas; Waltz Across Texas; Luckenbach, Texas;
All My Exes Live in Texas; Beautiful, Beautiful Texas; The Eyes of Texas; Texarkana Baby; El Paso; El Paso City; Town of El Paso; Houston;
San Antonio Rose; Streets of Laredo; God Bless Texas; Stars Over Texas; That's
Right (You're Not from Texas); Texas Tornado; Red River Valley.
State Specials
Texas leads all states in the production of oil and the raising of beef cattle.
San Antonio, Texas elected the first Hispanic mayor of a major U.S. city: Henry Cisneros (May 1, 1981).
In Texas, it's illegal to have sex with a fish.
