Texas, named from the Caddo Indian word, tejas, meaning friends, hosts a mingling of environments and cultures. Early Spanish authorities considered the Caddos friends and their influence carried over into the Mexican province, the republic, and the present day state. Indians in Texas ranged from the Apache to the Wichita, and landmark names such as Wichita Falls, Nacogdoches, and Waco from the Heuco Indians still reflect this.
Hispanic influences are strong both in language and culture. The state dish is chili, a tongue-sizzling stew brewed with peppers, garlic, onions and other spices. Visitors will find other tasty Tex-Mex dishes such as cheesy enchiladas covered with onions, chalupas, hot tamales, taquitos, and burritos filled with hot sauce and sour cream.
Other influences linger as Texas was first under Spanish rule for three centuries, until the French explorer, La Salle, established his colony at Fort St. Louis near the coastline after sinking his vessel, the Belle, in Matagorda Bay. In 1821 Texas came under Mexican rule, but won its independence on the bloody San Jacinto Battleground as the Republic of Texas in 1836. In 1845 it became a state of the United States, although a Confederate flag flew in its skies for four years.
Many famous people have their roots in Texas. Among them are Carol Burnett from San Antonio, Willie Nelson, Larry Hagman, ZZ Top, Audie Murphey the war hero, Denton Cooley a famous Houston heart surgeon, rich man Ross Perot, former US presidents Eisenhower, Johnson, George Bush and our own George W who calls his wooded ranch near Crawford home.
Over a hundred state parks, with their abundance of lakes and rivers, forests and beaches, canyons and mountain ranges with more than 90 peaks over a mile high, offer refuge for wildlife such as pelicans, roadrunners, prairie chickens, white winged doves, alligators, armadillos, deer, raccoons, and more. No hunting or shooting is allowed and campers are offered a range of facilities from furnished cabins to primitive sites.
Texas boasts a rainbow array of plant life including the brightly colored bluebonnets that blanket entire fields in spring, climbing violet morning glories, brilliant pink-blooming strawberry cactus, mesquite brush, the tall pines of east Texas and treasure-yielding pecan trees. .
Rock and mineral collectors will discover plentiful samples of many different gems, including topaz, petrified wood, and granite. The State Capitol in Austin is made of Texas pink granite. Amateur guidebooks are available from the Bureau of Economic Geology in Austin.
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