This Day in Texas History: Radio Broadcasting Comes to South Texas September 25, 1922 On this day in 1922, WOAI-San Antonio, the first radio station in South Texas, began broadcasting. The station, founded by G. A. C. Halff, had an initial power of 500 watts. It grew to 5,000 watts by 1925–considered powerful at that…
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This Day in Texas History: Worst Bus Accident in Texas History September 21, 1989 On this day in 1989, the worst bus accident in Texas history occurred near the communities of Mission and Alton in Hidalgo County. At 7:30 A.M. a Dr Pepper truck hit a Mission school bus, knocking it into a caliche pit…
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This Day in Texas History: Texans Fight at Chickamauga September 19, 1863 On this day in 1863, the two-day battle of Chickamauga began, ending in one of the last great field victories for the Confederacy. The first day’s action, fought in densely wooded terrain, became a classic “soldier’s battle” in which generalship counted for little…
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This Day in Texas History: Mexico Frees Slaves September 15, 1829 On this day in 1829, the Guerrero Decree, which abolished slavery throughout the Republic of Mexico except in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, was issued by President Vicente R. Guerrero. The decree reached Texas on October 16, but Ramón Músquiz, the political chief of the…
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This Day in Texas History: Sam Houston Elected President of the Republic of Texas September 5, 1836 On this day in 1836, Sam Houston, the victor of San Jacinto, was elected president of the newly founded Republic of Texas. Candidates for the office had included Henry Smith, governor of the provisional government, and Stephen F.…
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This Day in Texas History: Benavides Crosses Rio Grande in Pursuit of Mexican “Unionists” September 1, 1863 On this day in 1863, Maj. Santos Benavides, the highest-ranking Mexican American to serve in the Confederacy, led seventy-nine men of the predominantly Tejano Thirty-third Texas Cavalry across the Rio Grande in pursuit of the bandit Octaviano Zapata.…
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