We’ve told you a lot of cool things about The Lone Star State so far, but we haven’t covered much about the history of Texas. However, you probably didn’t learn the following Texas history facts in school. We dug a little deeper to find the quirky, bizarre, or really interesting tidbits of history in this state that just might surprise you!

1) Apparently there's a time capsule that was buried somewhere in Amarillo in 1968 containing the passbook to a bank account with a $10 deposit.
Kent Kanouse/Flickr
It will be worth $1 quadrillion when opened in 2968!
2) Jesse James chose not to rob a particular bank in McKinney, Texas because he liked the chili they served.
Fallschirmjäger/Wikipedia
Guess it pays off to have good culinary skills if you own a bank!
3) Jalapeno pepper jelly originated in Lake Jackson, Texas, and was first sold commercially in 1978.
Artizone/Flickr
Yummmm!!!
4) Texas can split into five states without federal approval.
wackystuff/flickr
Yeehaw!
5) The Oscar statuette was named after Texan Oscar Pierce, whose niece worked for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.
jpellgen/flickr
Upon seeing the statuette, she said, "Why, that looks just like my Uncle Oscar." Thus, the Oscar was born!
6) In the 1850s, the U.S. War Department imported camels into Texas twice because they thought they'd come in handy for the Indian Wars.
SuperCar-RoadTrip.fr/Flickr
People saw them roaming around West Texas well into the 1920s!

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 This Little-Known State Park Is Where The Texas Declaration Of Independence Was Signed In 1836

This Little-Known State Park Is Where The Texas Declaration Of Independence Was Signed In 1836

 You Won't Even Recognize Texas When You Watch This Historical Footage From The 1950s

You Won't Even Recognize Texas When You Watch This Historical Footage From The 1950s
7) Texas is the only U.S. state that entered the Union by treaty rather than territorial annexation.
Dave Wilson/Flickr
Okay, most people probably know this, but it's one of the more interesting and unique things about Texas we'd say!
8) The lowest temperature ever recorded was -23 degrees in Tulia in 1899 and Seminole in 1933.
Bill & Vicki T/Flickr
How many of you want it to get that cold this winter?
9) The tiny town of Slaughter, Texas has never had a homicide.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
10) One of the most famous, honorable Texans, Sam Houston, was actually born in Virginia.
Oldag07/Wikipedia
Another interesting fact about Sam Houston is, the giant statue of him outside of Huntsville is the world's largest freestanding statue of an American!
11) The San Jacinto Monument in La Porte is the tallest stone column memorial structure in the world, measuring 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
Jerry and Pat Donaho/Flickr
Once again, this proves that everything is indeed bigger in Texas!
12) The oldest construction in North America is right here in Texas, at the Kincaid Rockshelter just outside Uvalde!
texasbeyondhistory.net
Archaeologists found a stone floor in a muddy rock shelter buried under many layers of dirt, likely to make the living space more inhabitable. They traced it back to the Clovis people who settled there more than 13,000 years ago.

Hopefully these facts didn’t make you fall asleep like a lecture from your college history professor…which ones did you find the most interesting? I hope you could learn something from these little glimpses into history! If you did, please comment below and share with your friends!

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Jackie Ann | June 01, 2020

What are the most popular foods in Texas?

Texas is known for many different types of cuisine, but the most popular dishes in Texas are Tex-Mex and BBQ. Tex-Mex cuisine originated from the Texan people of Texas, blending traditional Mexican flavors with a Texan flare. Characterized by dishes that are heavy on the shredded cheese, meat, and flour tortillas, Tex-Mex can be found in just about any city or town in Texas. While barbecue in general isn’t specific to Texas, Texas does have severe different styles of barbecue, with East Texan barbecue is typically smoked over hickory wood and marinated in a tomato-based sauce and South Texas barbecue is traditionally marinated in a molasses-like sauce.

What is the oldest town in Texas?

The oldest town in Texas is Nacogdoches. Founded in 1779 by Don Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, today the city has a population upwards of 30,000 people but still maintains a small town charm. The earliest settlers to the area with a local Caddo tribe, the Nacodgoche who came to East Texas around 800 A.D. Vistors to Nacogdoches can look forward to beautiful brick-lined streets in the historic downtown district, several antique stores, local restaurants, and lovely nature walks.

What are the most beautiful places in Texas?

From mountains to swamps, the Texas landscape is one of the most diverse in the country. No matter what scenery you’re looking for, Texas has it. One of the most beautiful places in Texas is Jacob’s Well. Located in Wimberley, Jacob’s Well is one of the largest underwater caves in Texas, and the clear spring water makes it a popular swimming hole in the warmer months. Caddo Lake State Park, located on the Texas/Louisiana border, is a beautiful natural oasis that any nature lover would enjoy. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in Texas, and it’s teeming with beautiful bald cypress trees, fishing opportunities.

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