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Colorful Past Still Apparent in
Land of Diversified Attractions
AUSTIN, Tex. -Regardless of
the craving of the vacation
palate, you will be satisfied and
then some when you visit the
Lone Star State. Texas is a land
of diversified attractions, ranging
from mountains and canyons in
the west to the cypress bayous
in the east, island beaches in the
south to the plains of the great
northern Panhandle. In addition
to the many natural and man
made attractions set in this west
ern frontier land, Texas affords
visitors a glimpse of many mis
sions and monuments which re
flect the state's colorful and ro
mantic past
The Texts coast was first ex
plored by Alvarez de Fineda in
1519, and Cbronado moved along
the inland in 1541. Texas became
a Spanish province in 1691, a
Mexican state in 1821, fought its
wsy to being an Independent Re
public in 1836, and was admitted
as a state by the United States,
Dec. 29, 184o. It was re-admitted
March 30, 1879, after seceding
during the Civil War. ,
Many "Firsts"
The state ranks first in size,
oil, beef production, sheep-raising,
wool, mohair, cotton, sul-
fihur. It'a top industry is petro
eum refining, followed by meat-
Sacking and cotton-seed products,
ouston, largest city in the South,
is the second largest port, by
volume, in the nation. The state
Has more than 600 airports, 55
major U. S. Air Force bases, 126
Institutions of higher learning.
Texas derived its. jiame from
the Indian word "tejas," mean
ing "friendly." From the friendly
Indians of yesterday to the
friendly, prideful Texans of to
day, a warm hospitable atmos
phere has covered this-great
land. The sobriquet of "Friend
ship State" was officially adopt
ed. Bluebonnet Noteworthy
Among the 4,000 different
kinds of species of wild flowers
in Texas, the Bluebonnet is prob
ably the most noteworthy of
them all. The bluebonnet -was
adopted as the state flower by act
of the legislature on March 7,
1901. It is known that they grow
most abundantly in north central
and southwest Texas
There are 54 mountains in
Texas having altitudes of more
than 6,000 feel The highest is
the Guadalupe Peak, which
towers to 8,751 feet above sea
level and is the tallest peak east
of the Rocky Mountains. The
Black Hills of South Dakota rate
as the tallest range.
Unusual Formations Found
The topography between the
Gulf of Mexico and the towering
mountains of West Texas consists
of fertile black lands, rolling
UL ICllUe UIHIH ItlllUS, lulling !,.. mllllm. v.-nnl .
hills and semiarid country. Manyjf0n ' jver three mil,lon PeoPle
features such as winding streams, ,
unusual rock and hill formations .State, National Forest
lie within this area. Besides the state parks and
Amnne the most imnortant' national Dark. Texas has five
rivers in Texas are the Rio
H
Austin, Tex.-Thero are 1,000 roadside parka like this in Texas, j
offering complete picnicking facilities throughout tho state. L
Grande River, 900 miles long in
Texas; Brazos River, 840 miles;
Colorado River, 600 miles; Trin
ity River, 450 miles; Red River,
450 miles; Sabine River, 360
miles; Nueces River, 315 miles:
Neches River, 260 miles; and
Pecos River, 260 miles. In addi
tion to these rivers, there are
525 lakes and reservoirs and
many other streams, totaling
3,695 square miles of water area
in Texas. Beside being t source
of water supply and scenic
beauty, these streams offer ex-
Texas
Population 7,711,191 (1950)
(6th).
Area 267,339 sq. mi. (1st).
Capital Austin.
M o t t o Friendship (Texas
in Indian).
Flower Bluebonnet.
Tree Pecan.
Bird Mockingbird.
Largest Cities Houston
(596,1(3); Dallas (434,462);
San Antonio (408,442); Fort
Worth (278,778); Austin (132,
459); El Paso (130,485).
cellent recreation. Many of the
streams and lakes ire known for
excellent fishing. Over 200 kinds
of fresh- and salt-water fish can
be caught in Texas waters.
Licenses Available
nunung and lishlng are con
trolled by the Game and Fish
Commission. Nonresident fish
ing licenses are $5.25 per year or
$1.63 for a five-day period, and
a hunting license costs $25. These
may be purchased from any game
warden or may be found at many
sporting goods jitores.
There are 47 state jiarks and
one national park in Texas. The
Big Bend National Park covers
707,000 acres of scenic beauty,
including colorful mountains,
canyons, picturesque native flora
and an abundance of wildlife.
The state parks total.an area of
9J.35U acres and are well distrl
buted throughout the state. A
number of these parks have re
fectory buildings, lodges, and
camp sites. Several have over
night accommodations and most
have facilities for recreation, con
sisting of dance terraces, riding
academies, playground equip
ment, golf courses and swimming
pools. I he popularity oi these
Darks is reflected by the attend
state forests and four national
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Austin, Texas Texas isn't all prairie and oil derricks, h has hundreds of mites of water frontage
(typified by this beach scene on the Gulf of Mexico at Galveston): maior cities such as Hous
ion. vinai. aan Anion a ana
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Is typical, and minions such as the San Joie y San Miguel do Aguayo Mission below, regard-
ed as one of the finest examples of mission architecture ever erected. -
forests, which provide scenic
beauty and facilities for recrea
tion. Possibly one of the most in
teresting features of Texas is
the historical landmarks. Old
mission buildings, such as .the
Alamo, San Jose, Capistrano,
Concepcion and Espada in San
Antonio and LaBahia at Goliad,
are some of the better known
historical landmarks.
In these missions one can see
the influence of the Spanish
Mexican and the Anglo-American
era up to the period of the form
ing of the Republic of Texas.
Certainly the Alamo, cradle of
Texas liberty, which houses a
museum, and the San Jacinto
Monument, built in commenmor
I ation of the Battle of San Jacinto
j April 21, 1836, cannot be over
looked among historical land
marks. Respectively, they are
ranked as first and second among
! Texas historical landmarks.
I The San Jacinto Monument,
! located on the San Jacinto Battle
field near Houston, stands 570
feet and Is the tallest stone
Imomument in the world from
the base to the too. The base of
the monument houses the San
Jacinto Museum of History.
"Wild West" Leaves Brand '
I The old "Wild West" has left
:its brand on Texas culture. Any
one with an adventurous spirit
! would welcome the opportunity
to explore the customs and traits
of the old strange and fantastic
stories of the gun-toting cowboys
of Texas. Most of these stories
are only memories. Today many
i i . .i i i j
are enjoying wnai uiey ueueve
was once the life of the typical
cowboy of yesteryear. Dude and
guest ranches and rodeos have
been substituted for the old
western life. -
Entertainment consists of
folk songs, old fashioned square
dances ana the companionship of
people of all walks of life. Be
sides offernut-excellent entertain
ment 'and relaxation, the dude
and guest ranches are ideal to
escape the "hustle and bustle"
of city life.
Rodeos Popular Events
Rodeos are one of the most
colorful and exciting sporting
events of the'year. Western para
phernalia is the dress of the day
during this -sporting event. In
many cities rodeos are an annual
event and in others seasonal.
There are more rodeos in July
than any other month of the year.
The popularity of this event is
increasing from year to year.
even thoueh it may not be the
same as the "Old West," it is just
as enjoyaoie.
There are over 53,000 miles of
highways leading to the out stand
ins attractions in this state.
Anyone planning to vacation in
Texas may obtain free maps and
complete routing service, includ
ing authentic road information.
literature, and othermaterial or
any additional Information desir
ed from the Texas Highway De
partment, Traffic Services Divi-
' sion, Austin 14, Texas.
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Austin, Tex.-Natwral gas provides one of Texas' most important
at Carthago is an example. It Is used for fuel, as a primary source of power for oil wells, and
in tho rhaking of carbon black, natural gasoline and helium. (All photos by Texai Highway
Department). m
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Austin, Tex. Typical of tho tropical lower Rio Grande Valley,
center of Texas' fruit industry. It this luscloua citrus grove.
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Industries of which this refinery
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