Passport to Texas

History: Enduring Spirit of African Americans in 19th Century Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Enduring Spirit: African Americans in 19th Century Texas is a yearlong exhibit at the Texas Star of the Republic Museum in Washington-on-the-Brazos.

08—It actually started from a recent acquisition that we acquired. It was about 15-hundren documents from a gentleman names Asa Hoxey.

Houston McGaugh, director of the museum for Blinn College, says Hoxey moved to Washington County in the early 1830s, and brought black slaves with him.

14— And that prompted us to wonder if there are any descendants of those slaves still in Washington County. And we were able to identify some. So, that really made us start thinking about, more of – well, gosh, there’s an awful lot of African American history that you don’t hear about.

A question the museum wanted answered: when did Blacks first arrive in Texas?

10— And we were surprised to find out they started coming in the 1820s when this was still part of Mexico; and they were actually trying to get land grants like some of the Anglo settlers were in Austin’s Colony.

Mexico abolished slavery in 1829, so Blacks here before Texas Independence were free. That changed when Texas became a republic.

07— And, actually, the free blacks that were here, were given one year to either go back into servitude, or leave the Republic.

Many of these free Blacks went to Mexico where their ancestors live today. Learn more about the exhibit and special events and speakers at starmuseum.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Enjoy the holidays at State Parks and Historic Sites

Parks | Holidays: Festive Activities in Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

You don’t have to travel far to find holiday events in state parks, but Thomas Wilhelm says, if you do have the time, how about a road trip December 16, to Far West Texas and Fort Leaton.

17—For this Christmas, Fort Leaton will be having a Posada, which is the recreation of Mary and Joseph’s trip through Bethlehem. But, there’s also going to be a performance by a local choir; so, it’s going to tell the holiday story with that area of the state’s culture in mind.

Palo Duro Canyon in the Panhandle is another far flung destination. On December 20, it offers a new holiday event worth the drive.

18—It’s called their Hot Air Balloon Glow. So, they’re going to bring balloons into the canyon and light them up. Of course, there’s going to be other traditional holiday events: hot cocoa, snacks – that sort of thing. Santa Claus will be there for the kids. So, it will be a really unique opportunity to not only experience Palo Duro Canyon, but really put a holiday feel to it.

If you prefer to celebrate nature, Central Texas’ McKinney Falls December 20 & 21 is the place to be.

14—They’re doing a Winter Solstice Celebration. So, they’ll have opportunities for kids to join with a ranger and do hikes, or nature themed crafts and activities. So, it’s a great opportunity to touch base with nature during the holidays.

Find a full list of holiday events on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

The kind of train wreck that may have ended William George Hughes life.

History: William George Hughes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Englishman, William George Hughes came to America after the Civil War; he was 18 and penniless. He settled in the Boerne area, found work, and eventually saved enough money to buy land where he raised sheep and goats.

07—He’s the American Dream in a way; he came over penniless and managed to make a nice life for himself and his family.

Historian, Jennifer Carpenter says Hughes was an entrepreneur and natural leader.

15—So, he definitely left an impact on the economy; he founded a stagecoach company that ran between Boerne and Bandera County. He was a civic leader for the area. And, I think if he had lived a little bit longer he probably would have become one of the preeminent ranchers of the area.

Hughes died tragically in a train accident transporting his livestock. He was only 42.

24—He would travel around the country selling them, or making sure people were aware of his ranch and what he offered. And, I guess he traveled pretty close to his animals. He would be in one of the car s with them. And he was on his way to Paducah, KY – I believe – enroute in Illinois, and apparently his train collided with another. And he was asleep at the time – at least that’s what the news report led me to believe. The impact caused him to die instantly.

The animals survived. His wife settled his estate, sold the ranch, and moved with their three children to the east coast.

Learn more about other early Texans on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

Terrain of Bandera County

History: Englishman William George Hughes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jennifer Carpenter is a historian with State Parks.

08—We are charged with anything relating to history of the state park system and historic preservation of structures throughout
the state park system and our at historic sites.

Much of her job involves detective work. Lately she’s been hot on the trail of Englishman William George Hughes, a 19th Century Hill Country Sheep Rancher. Parts of ranch lie within the boundaries of a parcel Texas Parks and Wildlife is developing called ABK, or Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area in Kendall and Bandera counties.

13— So, we had a name, but we didn’t really know what it meant. We went to the county court houses and dug through lease records and probate record, whatever we could try to find. So we would kind of search around in different repositories through Texas.

And the digging paid off.

19— The University of Texas at San Antonio had the Garland A. Perry papers; and he wrote a book on William George Hughes. He, I guess, had contacted the Hughes family descendants and they shared with Mr. Perry a vast collection of family photographs, papers, business materials. It was just a great cache.

Jennifer Carpenter shares more about this19th Century Englishman turned Texan and his role in the economic development of the Hill Country tomorrow.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

San Jacinto Monument

History | Tech: Earth Cam on San Jacinto Monument Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mounted 540 feet in the air, just below the 220 ton stone star on the San Jacinto monument in La Porte, an earth cam keeps 24 hour vigil over the battlegrounds. But it’s not the only monument with an eye in the sky.

17— There’s an earth cam at the Washington monument, there’s an earth cam at Mount Rushmore; there’s an earth cam on the Empire State building. As a matter of fact, there are about 50 earth cams in Texas, and by the time we get done with this conversation, there might be 51.

Larry Spasic (SPA-sick) is president of the San Jacinto Museum of History. Will virtual visitation keep people from actually visiting?

21— Although we give a little sampling of what’s out here, we certainly don’t show everything that is available out here. And I think when people who might not normally be interested in coming out here, go to our web cam and look out at the battlefield and the port – they might be enticed to come out here.

Nevertheless, Larry Spasic says logging onto the earth cam on the San Jacinto monument is the next best thing to being there.

16— Well, I think it’s very important that people from distant places that might not be able to visit a site, at least be able to see it and learn a little but about it by having an internet connection and virtually visit via earth cam.

Find a link to the earth cam at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.