10 Historical Landmarks You Absolutely Must Visit In Texas
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Though we’re not the oldest state by any means, Texas has some of the richest history in the entire country. Many battles for freedom have been fought on our soil, we produced the biggest oil boom ever to occur…I could go on and on. Luckily, a lot of the landmarks that commemorate these historical events still stand today. Here are 10 that you should definitely pay a visit to.
A trip to the hill country just wouldn't be complete without paying a visit to the site of one of the bloodiest battles in Texas. The American soldiers, though clearly outnumbered, fought relentlessly for our freedom, and paying homage to them is our honor and duty.
This Navy battleship was used in both World Wars many decades ago. It was also the first Navy ship to be transformed into a museum and listed as a National Historic Landmark. Touring a warship and picturing the brutal fights and conditions the soldiers endured is a humbling experience, to say the least.
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Instead of flying all the way out to D.C. to tour the nation's capitol, you can just stay right here in Texas - ours is bigger, anyway.
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The Strand is the only place I've been aside from New Orleans that has an unmistakable, old-fashioned downtown vibe. From getting ice cream at La King's and watching them hand-spin taffy to popping in all the eclectic shops, this is easily one of my favorite day trips in the state.
This famous monument is such an important part of Texas history, and therefore a must-see landmark. It designates the site of the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 that officially won us our independence from Mexico. If you think you couldn't possibly be any prouder to be a Texan, you'll rethink that as soon as you take a trip here.
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Spindletop is another landmark that played a huge role in the development of not only our state but our entire nation. Without it, many of the oil companies we know today wouldn't exist (and gas prices would be through the roof!).
The USS Lexington is another war ship, but it fought in WWII and the Cold War. It's nicknamed "The Blue Ghost," and it was the fifth US Navy ship named in honor of the Revolutionary War's Battle of Lexington. It is now a museum open to the public.
Everyone knows we like ranching and farming here in Texas. For this reason, King Ranch is an absolute must-visit. After all, it's the largest ranch in the entire world!
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Though the house that stands today isn't the original due to a fire in 2008, the Governor's Mansion is definitely still worth a visit. It was the very first designated landmark in Texas, and every governor since 1856 has lived here.
This fort has been around since the mid-19th century, so it's seen a lot of war and definitely been weathered by the elements over the years. It protected migrants and was the control center of the Great Comanche and Mescalero Apache war trails in the late 1800s. Needless to say, you'll definitely learn something and feel like you've been sent back in time if you take a trip here.
Have you ever visited any of these landmarks? What are your favorite historical landmarks in Texas?
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