Wise About Texas

Crush, Texas was the second largest city in Texas for a few hours in September, 1896.  Learn about a Texas-sized publicity stunt that was the biggest and, unfortunately the deadliest in Texas history.  It was a train wreck in more ways than one.  Travel back to the glory days of rail travel and learn about the great "Crash at Crush!" The gladiators before the battle           William George Crush   Impact!   Impact!   The aftermath

Review the battle of San Jacinto.  18 minutes that changed the world.   View of the battleground. The Texians advanced from upper left to lower right. Diagram of the battle Santa Anna Surrenders

After the fall of the Alamo and the massacre at Goliad, times in Texas were uncertain at best.  General Sam Houston took the army on a retreat to the east.  In this episode learn how the Texian army made it to San Jacinto and some of the side stories and important questions raised during that time.  Follow the Texian army as it marches across Texas to its destiny at San Jacinto. Sam Houston   Pamelia Mann takes her oxen back             The runaway scrape Allegedly, but not likely, the "whichway tree"

One of the darkest events in Texas history was the massacre of the Texians at Goliad. Learn stories of deceit, escape and even kindness in the midst of sorrow in the latest episode of Wise About Texas.

180 years ago, every Alamo defender lost his life.  But not everyone who was in the Alamo died.  Learn some stories of the folks who survived the battle and a little about the effect of the defeat on the government of the young Republic of Texas.   Angelina Dickinson, the "Babe of the Alamo" Enrique Esparza was 8 years old at the time of the battle. A drawing of Travis' servant Joe identifying bodies for Santa Anna Susanna Dickinson, perhaps the most famous Alamo survivor

180 years ago today, March 6, 1836 the final assault on the Alamo began. Wise About Texas pays tribute to the fallen in this bonus episode.  

180 years ago, the Mexican army surrounded the Alamo.  For 13 days, the defenders worked on the fortifications, sheltered some townspeople, entreated their fledgling government for food and supplies, and plead for reinforcements.  Learn who took shelter in the Alamo and follow the course of the siege through the letters of the garrison commander William Barrett Travis, including one of the most stirring and inspirational letters in world history.

Texas was in a state of confusion in February, 1836 and Santa Anna was on the march to quash the rebellion.  The government was split and the military command was in disarray.  But time was running out.  Learn how things stood in Texas 180 years ago this month as events started to concentrate around San Antonio de Bexar--and the Alamo. The Alamo in 1849, 13 years after the battle     William B. Travis, drawn 3 months before the battle of the Alamo Alamo commander James C. Neill James Bowie David Crockett, of Tennessee Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, circa 1853  

Texas elections are always exciting but not all of them result in an armed standoff in the capitol between two Governors. The election of 1873 did! The Texas Supreme Court used a semicolon to cause the conflict and, change Texas history and end reconstruction! Learn more in Episode 9 of Wise About Texas. The Capitol building where the standoff occurred. The same capitol building on fire in 1881 The infamous "Semicolon Court"   Governor Richard Coke E.J. Davis in his union uniform. Davis adversary Gov. Andrew J. Hamilton

In Episode 8, you learned how Bob Fitzsimmons won the heavyweight championship on a sandbar in the Rio Grande.  In this bonus episode, learn how Fitzsimmons' next fight cost the legendary Wyatt Earp his gun...and his reputation! Wyatt Earp in 1896, around the time of the fight artist rendering of the Fitzsimmons-Maher fight

In 1896, the biggest sporting event in the nation was to be a fight for the heavyweight championship.  But its location was a secret!  Armed Soldiers from Mexico, Arizona, and the Texas Rangers had it stopped, until the "Law West of the Pecos," Judge Roy Bean managed to take it international--sort of.  Learn about Texas ingenuity in Episode 8 of Wise About Texas. Heavyweight champ Bob Fitzsimmons Legendary lawman Bat Masterson....no match for a Texas Ranger Texas Ranger Captain Bill McDonald...one riot, one ranger. The old Sanderson depot where Bat Masterson learned to behave himself Judge Roy Bean, the law west of the Pecos The Fitzsimmons-Maher fight. On a sandbar in the Rio Grande.  

170 years ago today, December 29, the United States admitted Texas as the 28th State. Learn about what Texas President Anson Jones called the "great drama" in this episode of Wise About Texas! Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas U.S. President James Polk Site of the Texas legation in London Another shot of the location of the Texas Embassy in London

In December, 1835, the Mexican army surrendered the major city of Bexar to the rebellious Texans.  Learn about the grass fight and the capture of the pots and pans!  You'll also learn about the pivotal role BBQ played in the cause of Texas independence!   The Alamo in 1849. This is the oldest picture of the Alamo and probably the closest to an "1836" view we'll ever get. Gen. Edward Burleson who commanded the troops in the battle. The flag of the New Orleans Greys. The Greys participated in the battle and one of them challenged Deaf Smith in the cannon bets. This flag was captured at the Battle of the Alamo and is on display in a Mexican museum. Gen. Martin Perfecto de Cos, commander of the Mexican army at Bexar. Ben Milam who rallied the Texans and was later killed by a Mexican sniper outside the Veramendi palace.

Houston was the capital of Texas, but not for long.  After the capital moved to the new town of Austin, President Sam Houston kept trying to move it again...leading to an armed conflict and a cannon fired on Congress Avenue!  The only question is whether the war is really over...   Angelina Eberly statue on Congress Ave. in Austin The original capitol building in Austin, 1839 The first capitol building in Houston, 1837, on Texas Ave. at Main St. Sam Houston's first residence as President of the Republic of Texas. Located Caroline St. in Houston Historical marker for the first Houston, Texas.

The story of the first thanksgiving is not the one you might think.  Before the pilgrims, Texas already had a thanksgiving--and now we have two!  Learn more in this bonus episode of Wise About Texas.  Happy thanksgiving!   Governor Peter H. Bell proclaimed in 1850 that Thanksgiving in Texas be celebrated on the first Thursday in March. That proclamation stands. A crossing on the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River in Palo Duro Canyon. Did Coronado celebrate thanksgiving here in 1541?

There are several lists of the capitals of the Republic of Texas but they are incomplete!  Come travel with the provisional government of Texas from the declaration of independence on March 2, 1836 onward as it flees the advancing enemy and tries to conduct the business of the new republic.  Part 1 covers the period through the election of the first congress and one of its early votes--to move the capital again!   Jared Groce's Bernardo plantation house The first capitol building at Columbia A view of the former location of Fort Point in Galveston from across the channel Old Velasco

Download this episode and hear the story of the first large battle of the Texas revolution.  While the first shots of the Texas revolution were fired at Gonzales, the first larger battle, and the first Texan casualty, was fought near a mission south of present-day San Antonio.  This episode takes you back 180 years to the battle of Concepcion. The church at Mission Concepcion Memorial marker to Richard Andrews

In this episode, we celebrate the rough and tumble world of Texas politics by examining the 1948 Senate election.  This election had strange events, Texas Rangers, guns and lawsuits!  Download this episode to learn how a small precinct in a small South Texas county changed the course of U.S. history! George B. Parr Gov. Coke Stevenson (holding cigar) at the hearing in Alice. The infamous Box 13  

This episode introduces two of the first judges of Texas--Josiah Hughes Bell and Benjamin Cromwell Franklin.  Download this episode to hear stories of Austin's Colony and how the provisional Texas government learned of the victory at San Jacinto.  You'll also hear about the time Texas engaged in an act of war against the United States! Judge Benjamin C. Franklin Grave of Judge Franklin in New City Cemetary, Galveston, Texas.

Welcome to Wise About Texas, the podcast about Texas history and culture.  This introductory episode tells you about the show, the host, and the goals of this podcast.  Subscribe to the show and enrich your knowledge of the Texas history stories you know and learn some Texas history you don't know!