Posted by BrendaTx on 1/5/06 4:42pm
Msg #86373

TEXAS TRIVIA - OT


Nobody asked for them, but here are some little known Texas facts:

Beaumont to El Paso: 742 miles
Beaumont to Chicago: 770 miles

El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas

World's first rodeo was in Pecos... July 4, 1883.

The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built
over water.

The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first
full time coach for Rice University in Houston.

Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North
America.

Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America's only
remaining flock of whooping cranes.

Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978.

The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was in 1900 caused by a
hurricane in which over 8000 lives were lost on Galveston Island.

The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was "Houston.."

King Ranch is larger than Rhode Island.

Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43" in 24
hours
in and around Alvin in July 1979.

Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, instead of by
annexation. (This allows the Texas flag to fly at the same height as the
US flag.)

A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.

Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.

Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period after Dr in Dr
Pepper.

Texas has had six capital cities:.
1. Washington-on-the-Brazos
2. Harrisburg
3. Galveston
4. Velasco
5. West Columbia
6. Austin

The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller
than the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. (by 7 feet).

The name Texas comes from the Hasini Indian word "tejas" meaning friends.

Tejas is not Spanish for Texas.

The State animal is the Armadillo. (An interesting bit of trivia about
the
armadillo is they always have four babies! They have one egg which splits
Into four and they either have four males or four females. (Well... I
thought it was interesting anyway!)

The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - TEXAS STYLE

People here in Texas have trouble with all those shalls and shall nots in
the Ten Commandments. Folks here just aren't used to talking in those
terms. So, some folks out in west Texas got together and translated the
"King James" version into "King Ranch" version: Ten Commandments, cowboy
style. Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails
Church
in Fairlie, Texas.

(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

That's kinda plain 'n simple don't ya think?
Y'all have A NICE Day NOW, Ya Hear?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May God litter your life with blessings!

Reply by Melissa Morse on 1/5/06 4:49pm
Msg #86380

Great info. I am still laughing. Thanks.

Reply by Beth/MD on 1/5/06 5:02pm
Msg #86386

Great stuff. Texas is my "home state" as I was born in Tarrant County.

Reply by Susan Shipman on 1/5/06 7:05pm
Msg #86442

That was interesting! Brings to mind some questions/or comments

1. I flew into El Paso once. Probably the ugliest place I've ever seen on earth..from the sky and on the ground.

2. Is that King Ranch casserole REALLY from King Ranch? And just what IS on the King Ranch - cattle?

3. I saw something on Discovery recently about that hurricane on Galveston; it was horrible, WORSE than Katrina.

4. Why a State with as much character as Texas chose an Armadillo as it's animal is beyond me.

5. Love the 10 Commandments! (easier to remember, too)

6. My last trip to Texas, I mentioned to my friend..."oh aren't those pretty purple flowers, lets stop and pick some..." Well. You'd think I had suggested burning the American Flag. The State flower is not only protected by the State, but by it's people as well.

thanks, fun stuff.

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/5/06 10:25pm
Msg #86490

I cannot answer all of your questions because it is against the Temple law, (that's Temple Texas Law)but I can enlighten you on a few


**Is that King Ranch casserole REALLY from King Ranch? And just what IS on the King Ranch - cattle?** We must investigate this one. It's a cattle ranch...I think there are a few rattlesnakes there also!! I wonder about the casserole's roll thought

** I saw something on Discovery recently about that hurricane on Galveston; it was horrible, WORSE than Katrina.**
Galveston is a very favorite place of mine. If you ever get a chance to go there, there are actually some pretty good photos and museum pieces, films about The 1900 Storm (I think it was '00.)

Go on the Strand, ride the Ferry, Go to the Mardis Gras, go through very big old houses...and eat at Guido's on the Seawall.

Galveston was a great Sunday drive when I lived on the coast...and I made many trips over there each summer when the neighborhood started boring the restless young natives masquerading as my boys and their adolescent friends.

*4. Why a State with as much character as Texas chose an Armadillo as it's animal is beyond me. *

Hmmm...to understand and to see the pink glow around the 'dilla, I think you need to have some background in a mushroom harvesting relationship with Janis Joplin, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Clayton Williams, or Kinky Friedman....and you must also

5. Love the 10 Commandments! (easier to remember, too)

6. My last trip to Texas, I mentioned to my friend..."oh aren't those pretty purple flowers, lets stop and pick some..." Well. You'd think I had suggested burning the American Flag. The State flower is not only protected by the State, but by it's people as well.

Reply by Art_MD on 1/6/06 7:36am
Msg #86526

Does Texas have a Navy?

Anyone born in Texas is a citizen for life and gets in-state tuition no matter where they reside.
Texas has less than 1000 acres of Indian reservations.

Art

Reply by PAW_Fl on 1/6/06 8:07am
Msg #86539

Re: ALVIN, TEXAS TRIVIA - OT

Not only the worst rain disaster, but ...

Nolan Ryan hails from this (used to be) little town.

I lived there too! (Dad worked in Texas City. Granddad was ship's captain in Port Arthur.)