Texas, Our Texas

When we left Galveston beach, we drove to the San Jacinto Monument in LaPorte, Texas.   We wanted to help Missy understand why Texas is such a special state.

San Jacinto is a famous battlefield in Texas.  It is where the Texas army won our independence from Mexico.

The fight for independence had been very difficult for the Texans.  Six weeks earlier at the Alamo, every single soldier fighting for Texas had died.  Sam Houston led the charge at San Jacinto.  It was a surprise attack.  The battle took just 18 minutes.  On that day, April 21, 1836, Texas became an independent republic.  Texas joined the United States in 1845.

Because San Jacinto has such a special place in Texas history, Texans built a monument here.  The wind was still blowing really hard, so Dad took hold of Missy when Mom took this photo.  We didn't want her flying up in the sky again!

Missy in front of the San Jacinto Monument

They say that everything is BIG in Texas.  Here are some fun reasons why...

• Texas is the second largest state in the United States of America.  Only Alaska is bigger.  If you want to know HOW BIG TEXAS IS, just check out my post by clicking here:  How Big is Texas?
• Houston, Texas, is the largest geographical city in the United States.  Houston has over two million people living in it, making it the fourth most populous of all U.S. cities.
• The Texas state capitol in Austin is the largest capital building in all the states.
• The San Jacinto monument is the world's tallest war memorial and stone column, standing a little more than 567 feet tall.

The San Jacinto monument is the tallest war memorial and stone column, standing at 567 feet tall.

There are so many more things that make Texas special.  Here are just a few more facts:

• Texas is the #1 state in the U.S. in production of oil, cotton, wool, hay, and cattle. 
• Texas is a word that means "friendly" in the Caddo Indian language.  
• Texas is called the Lone Star State because its flag has one white star. 
• The Texas state flower is the bluebonnet.  Bluebonnets only grow wild in Texas.

Texas Bluebonnets

Would you like to learn more about Texas?  Here are two great coloring book about Texas facts and symbols:

• http://www.texasbob.com/documents/texascolor.PDF
• http://kids.house.state.tx.us/worksheets/symbols.pdf

Here is a great book about symbols of Texas State Parks:  Symbols of Texas State Parks

Our state song is Texas, Our Texas: 

Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!

Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!

Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test

O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.

Chorus

Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,

Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,

Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,

With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.

Chorus

Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,

Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!

Mother of heroes, we come your children true,

Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

Chorus

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,

That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,

That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.