Tales of Texas

When thinking of San Antonio, one might first remember the Alamo or the city’s famed River Walk. While both are popular tourist attractions, there is another must-see spot when traveling to San Antone … La Villita. Dating back some 300 years, La Villita — which translates to “little village” — is a cornerstone of […]

The city of Fredericksburg will always be known as a historic community, especially considering its German heritage. At one time, it was certainly considered part of the frontier of the United States westward expansion, and Fort Martin Scott played an important role as the first U.S. Army outpost of the Texas Frontier. Now a […]

The Limestone County Historical Commission website indicates that the Springfield Cemetery, located within the boundaries of Fort Parker State Park, is the only visible reminder of the town of Springfield, the first county seat of Limestone County. The cemetery would be “in the middle of nowhere” today, were it not for its proximity to […]

Less than an hour’s drive north of Amarillo is the first of only two national monuments located in Texas. The Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument is well off the beaten path. Driving the well-maintained, two-lane road off Texas Highway 136 from Amarillo gives the feeling of being in the middle of a western movie. […]

The day was February 2, 1959. Buddy Holly was 22 years old, had 25 hit records already to his credit, was the lead singer of The Crickets and had assembled a group of musicians for the Winter Dance Party Tour across America’s Midwest. By then, The Crickets included Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup and Carl […]

The well-known Ellis County Courthouse, while unique in many respects, also has similarities with other Texas courthouses. Several Texas county seats can boast of their offices being housed in buildings designed by the nationally recognized architect, James Riely Gordon. Gordon designed as many as 18 Texas courthouses — 12 of them are still standing […]

Following Amelia Earhart’s famous transatlantic flight in 1932, American women grew interested in aviation. In 1929, Ninety-Nines, a group open to all female pilots, formed. From 117 invitations, 99 ladies became charter members. With rumblings of WWII, these women wondered how to help. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, drove deep […]

“Geologist Richard Burleson forms the opinion that they are ‘igneous occurrences.’ Archeologist Vount Byron de Prorok … concludes they were constructed by a prehistoric race. Dr. R.S. Hyer, former professor of physics at SMU, concludes the formation is natural. Dr. Kenneth Schaar of The University of Texas at Arlington concluded that both sections he […]

Elvis was here. And so was Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. Jim Reeves slept here. These legendary performers and others from the days of the Louisiana Hayride and “rockabilly” music all spent some time either recording, being interviewed or even taking a nap on the couch in the lobby of the iconic KSIJ radio station […]

Pounding hooves, fast horses and a break in the crowd as horses and riders came into the final stretch — that was Willie Shoemaker’s world for most of his life. Also known as William Lee Shoemaker, Bill Shoemaker and “The Shoe,” Willie knew how to get the best out of his thoroughbred mounts throughout […]