Come And Take It

She was the wife of a former governor, publisher of the Houston Post, a noted philanthropist, and proudly served her country in World War 2. She was also the second woman to ever hold a cabinet position in the United States. She lived a fascinating life of service and responsibility to the people of the Lone Star State.

It may not be the first, but it’s certainly the biggest and most-attended state fair in the United States. Every year nearly 3 million people flock to Fair Park just east of downtown Dallas to celebrate all things great about the Lone Star State such as pickup trucks, racing pigs, college football, and fried food.

From its earliest days as a tiny fleet during the Texas Revolution through its rag tag days in service of the new Republic, the Texas Navy had a controversial and fascinating history. It suffered through lack of funds, obsolete technology, and questionable behavior by its commanders, but was also responsible for some of the most unlikely victories in the annals of naval history.

From its earliest days as a tiny fleet during the Texas Revolution through its rag tag days in service of the new Republic, the Texas Navy had a controversial and fascinating history. It suffered through lack of funds, obsolete technology, and questionable behavior by its commanders, but was also responsible for some of the most unlikely victories in the annals of naval history.

Dwight D. Eisenhower is one of the most iconic figures in American history. A career military man, he became the face of American leadership during World War II, which eventually led him to the White House. There he defined an entire era. But few people remember that this great man had a humble birth in a small north Texas town.

The legal and illegal influx of people into Texas in the early 1800s brought scofflaws, land swindlers, and other assorted ne’er-do-wells into the borderlands contested by the United States and Mexico. It was inevitable that disputes over land would arise, but perhaps no one expected them to become the bloody conflict known as the Regulator-Moderator War.

One of the most defining characteristics of Texas is that it has long been a place where people from all over the world come to seeking a new life in a new place. They have come as individuals and as groups, and the impact they have had on the history and culture of Texas is as strong as the impact that Texas has had on them. This week we talk about the history of the Czechs in the Lone Star State.

Known as a sharp-witted straight shooter with down-home charm, Ann Richards was an acknowledged trailblazer. The first woman to truly be elected to the highest office in the State, she would go on to create changes in the education system, entertainment industry, and the state of equality in Texas that are still felt today.

Mirabeau Lamar is one of the great enigmas of Texas history. He is mostly known as the implacable opponent of Sam Houston. He was the third President of Texas, and his policies and actions were a disaster for the young republic. But he's also remembered for his forward-thinking vision of an educated Texas. Who was the real Mirabeau Lamar?

There's no single personality that dominates Texas history like Sam Houston. His contributions cannot be underestimated. Powerful and popular figures gain enemies, and Houston had many. We’re taking a look at just a few of the men that stood in opposition to the George Washington of Texas.

Many memorable characters emerged from the Texas Revolution, but few can claim to be as hard-working as Erastus 'Deaf' Smith, the legendary scout and spy who worked tirelessly from the Siege of Bexar to well after the Battle of San Jacinto in service to the Republic of Texas.

The son of a Comanche war chief and a captured white girl, Quanah Parker grew to possibly be the last great leader of his father’s people. Though he fought the encroachment of his lands for years, struggling to retain independence for his people, he proved himself remarkably adaptable once there was no other choice for his tribe.

A freed slave who became the first black American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Henry Flipper fought Apaches in West Texas and later settled in El Paso. He was an engineer, interpreter, translator, historian, inventor, newspaper editor, and high ranking government official at a time when African-Americans still faced extreme discrimination.

The gift of the people of Cincinnati to the Texas revolutionaries, two identical cannon became famed Twin Sisters and played a critical role in the Battle of San Jacinto. How they got here and the mystery of their ultimate fate have become a Texas legend.

The Mission Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is more than just a pretty church in Texas' westernmost city. It was the oldest European settlement in the territory and remains the longest continually-operating Catholic mission in Texas. Its long history and rich contributions to the culture are great examples of the deep roots that the Spanish and Native Americans have in the Lone Star State.

While folklore has lifted The Yellow Rose of Texas to an exalted position, who is the real person behind the story and the classic song?

While he only spent a few weeks of his life in Texas, he's remembered as one of the state's iconic legends, one of the bravest of the brave to die defending the Alamo. This week we conclude our series on the life of Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.

We continue our discussion of the History presentation of Texas Rising. This week we talk about the fifth installment: The Rise of the Republic.

We continue our discussion of the History presentation of Texas Rising. This week we talk about the third installment, entitled Vengeance is Mine.

We continue our discussion of the History presentation of Texas Rising. This week we talk about the third installment, entitled Blood for Blood.