Come And Take It

The South Texas city of Corpus Christi was once considered a natural refuge from hurricanes. In 1919, though it bore the brunt of a massively powerful storm which devastated the city and killed hundreds, including two of Texas first game wardens who gave their lives rescuing citizens. Today we look at the remarkable story of Captain Joe Williams and the Storm of 1919, on Come and Take It!

He was an engineer, a pioneer, an inventor, a businessman, and a leader. He came to Texas to help found what became Texas Instruments. He played a central role in shaping the city's reaction to the Kennedy assasination, and was called upon by the people of Dallas to fill a civic role as mayor. His years as mayor would help heal the wounds caused on that fateful November day and transform Dallas into a modern cosmopolitan city. Today we discuss J. Erik Jonnson, visionary and architect of the Plan for Dallas.

When you ask 'Who are the great leaders of the Texas Revolution?', the names Houston, Austin, Bowie, Crockett, and Travis come to mind right away. But just as important to the birth of Texas are the Tejanos—Texans of Spanish descent—who took up arms against the tyranny of Santa Anna. Today we look at Juan Seguín, José Navarro, and Lorenzo de Zavala, just a few of the Tejano heroes of the Texas Revolution.

From the earliest days of film to the big budget blockbusters and home-grown auteurs of modern cinema, Texas has played a long and critical role in the history of film-making. This week we look at some of the great films and film stars of Texas.

The First World War had a profound impact on the Lone Star State. From the men and women who served to its role as a training ground for soldiers and aviators, Texas played a significant part in the American war effort. What is often overlooked about World War I is the negative effect on Texas’ German population. As the world observes the centennial of this most terrible of wars, we take look back at the experience of Texas during the Great War.

We have talked about monuments of the Texas Centennial celebration, built to commemorate some of the most important events in Texas history. But not all monuments in Texas are so grand. Many seek to honor famous Texans or the triumphs of the common man. Sometimes we just build monuments to things we like.

Though the Comanche may have had the most impact on Texas History and the Caddo likely had the longest contact with European settlers, there are many other Native American tribes who made their mark. These tribes run the gamut from settled, farming groups to the horse-culture plains dwellers. From the Jumano and Apache of the far west to the Wichita and Kiowa of the plains, to the Cherokee who arrived just before the Revolution, all of these native peoples have a lasting legacy in Texas.

Long before the arrival of Europeans, the land that eventually became Texas was occupied by a diverse array of native people. The interactions of these people with the Europeans shaped both the culture and history of the state. In this episode, we look at some of the tribes that predominated the eastern half of Texas.

You could make the case that written Texas history began with a man named Cabeza de Vaca, who made history as much as he wrote it down. His 4000-mile journey, from the Florida coast through Texas to the Pacific coast of Mexico—most of it walking—is one of the earliest undertaken by a European in Texas.

The history of Texas may be bathed in blood, but it’s also soaked in beer. From small in-house and community breweries, to an explosion of regional operations in the late 1800s, and through the peak dominance of Big Beer in the mid-20th century, beer is as Texan as the bluebonnet or the armadillo. So pop the top off a longneck and start sippin’, pardner: we’re talking the history of Texas Beer.

He’s a legend, an outlaw, an entertainer, and the epitome of what it is to be Texan. Today we conclude our discussion of Willie Nelson in the modern years.

Few people embody the Texan ideal like legendary country music artist Willie Nelson. He is an icon of country music and one of the most recognizable Texans of all time. This week we examine his life, from his childhood in Texas, to the height of his success as the leader of Outlaw Country. We are proud to present this two parter on the life of the legend, Willie Nelson, on Come and Take It!

The Spanish mission system had a critical role in the early exploration and settlement of Texas. The system's purpose was to bring European civilization and Christianity to Native American tribes inhabiting Spanish Texas. Today we take a special look at the history of missions in the New World, its origins, and the influence it played in the development of the Lone Star State This week we are joined by our friend Stephen Guerra of The History of the Papacy podcast to look at the rich and fascinating history of the Texas Missions.

In 1842, war between the Republic of Texas and Mexico reignited, leading to a series of disastrous invasions back and forth across the border. Today we look at the compelling story of the Mier Expedition and the infamous Black Bean incident.

The touchstones of Goliad, the Alamo, and San Jacinto still resonate today. They're more than just stories in the history books, though; they have a physical presence, too: the monuments of the Texas Centennial.

We all know that the birthplace of aviation in the US is at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where the Wright Brothers took their historic flight in 1903. But would you believe that the birthplace and incubator of American military aviation was in the historic Texas city of San Antonio? From one officer teaching himself how to fly the Wright Flyer to the global reach of Joint Base San Antonio in the 21st century, we look at San Antonio, the birthplace of American military aviation.

From their beginnings as a group of aircraft enthusiasts in the Rio Grande Valley pooling their money to purchase a surplus World War 2 fighter, the Commemorative Air Force has grown into a nationwide organization dedicated to the restoration and preservation of history’s greatest warbirds.

The borders of Texas run for nearly 3000 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico, the length of the Rio Grande, the New Mexico desert, the great plains, the Red River, the piney woods in the east, and down the Sabine River. All of these borders have evolved over time and their tale is the tale of Texas history. The result is a most pleasing shape.

Love Field, located six miles north of downtown Dallas, has been central to Texas aviation history since 1917. Whether training pilots for both world wars, ushering in commercial aviation to the state, or playing its own part in the tragedy of the JFK assassination, Love Field has had many historic moments.

After the fall of the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad, Texans fled east to stay one step ahead of Santa Anna's pursuit. The Runaway Scrape, as it came to be known, would have a lasting legacy in the history of the Lone Star State, and would lead to one of the most stunning reversals of fortune in all of history, the Battle of San Jacinto, where Texans turned and faced Santa Anna and won their independence.