Historically interesting places
Mission Control Center in Houston
“Houston we have a problem”. Everyone knows this sentence. It was sent from Apollo 13 to the Mission Control Center in Houston. NASA’s Mission Control Center is located in the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. From here, all US space missions have been monitored and partially controlled since 1965. Here is also the place where the first message came from: “This is a small step for a human being, but a huge leap for humanity”.
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Find common acronyms associated with Texas. Also see top 10 cities by population in Texas.
- Allcitycodes: Lists of all area codes of Texas. Also includes state overview and counties by area code in Texas.
| Contact | 2101 Nasa Parkway Houston, Texas 77586 www.nasa.gov/mcc |
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
The Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park is located in the far south of Texas near the city of Brownsville. At this point a battle between the United States and Mexico took place on May 8, 1846. In the park, visitors will find plenty of information about the battle, its course and its consequences. The park covers a total area of approximately 13.6 km² and was established in 1978.
| Contact | 7200 Paredes Line Road Brownsville, TX 78526 www.nps.gov/paal/index.htm |
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is located in the city of La Porte in southeastern Texas. The biggest peculiarity of the park is certainly the San Jacinto Monument. The San Jacinto Monument is a 172 m high obelisk. At 172m, the San Jacinto Monument is the second tallest monument in the United States. The structure was built from 1936 to 1939. A 220-ton star is attached to the top. The San Jacinto Monument commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836.
| Contact | 3523 Battleground Road LaPorte Texas 77571 |
Fort Davis National Historic Site
The Fort Davis National Historic Site is located in western Texas and was established in 1961. The area covers an area of approximately 2 km². The Fort Davis National Historic Site commemorates a typical American wild west fort. Fort Davis was used from 1854 to 1891 to protect railroad connections. Today there are 24 historic buildings that have been restored and over 100 ruins of former buildings. 5 of the restored buildings are furnished in the style of the 1880s, reviving the past.
| Contact | www.nps.gov/foda/index.htm |
Special buildings and structures
Pennybacker Bridge
The 351 m long and up to 70 m high Pennybacker Bridge crosses Lake Austin near Austin. It is part of the Loop 360 highway that runs through Austin. The bridge is an eye-catcher and is made of weatherproof structural steel, a material that oxidizes over time and forms a rust-like patina. Since its completion on December 3, 1982, the Pennybacker Bridge has been a popular photo motif not only among Americans. The building received its name in honor of the Texas civil engineer Percy V. Pennybacker Jr. (1895-1963)
Reunion Tower in Dallas
The Reunion Tower in Dallas is a 171 m high observation tower. The building is part of the Hyatt Regency Hotel complex. The Reunion Tower was opened in 1978. There is a restaurant on the top floor of the Reunion Tower. This turns and on the floor below there are irregular special events. The Reunion Tower is located across from Dallas train station.
| Contact | 300 Reunion Boulevard Dallas, Texas 75207 www.reuniontower.com |
Texas State Capitol in Austin
The Texas State Capitol was built from 1882 to 1888 and is now the seat of the Texas Legislature. The Texas governor also has his office here. The building was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance. The Texas State Capitol has a height of approx. 94 m and is therefore higher than the Capitol in Washington DC. Inside the building you can experience the echo of the rotunda in an extraordinary way.
| Contact | 1100 North Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78701 |
McMahon Building in Wichita Falls
The McMahon Building in the city of Wichita Falls is a skyscraper built in 1919. The McMahon Building has a height of 12.2 m and brought some ridicule to the city of Wichita Falls after its completion. The building is said to be the world’s smallest skyscraper. Nowadays, however, it is the city’s main attraction and has survived tornadoes, fires and the city’s social decline after the oil boom.
Alamo in San Antonio
The Alamo in the city of San Antonio is a former mission that was later expanded into a fort. The Alamo is particularly famous for the battle in the Texas War of Independence. The Alamo was built by the Spaniards in 1744 and was initially used as a mission. In 1836 there was a siege and battle between the Mexican army and American insurgents. The best known of them was certainly Davy Crockett. There is now a museum on the site that attracts over 4 million visitors annually and commemorates Texas independence. The Alamo has been a historic sight since 1960.
Dallas County Administration Building
The Dallas County Administration Building, formerly known as the Texas School Book Depository, is the building from which Lee Harvey Oswald shot John F. Kennedy. The building was built in 1898 in the neo-Romanesque style. The building now houses the Sixth Floor Museum.
| Contact | 411 Elm Street Dallas, Texas 75202 |
John Neely Bryan Cabin in Dallas
In the middle of the city of Dallas there is a small wooden hut, the John Neely Bryan Cabin. John Neely Bryan is the founder of the city of Dallas. In honor of this, a replica of the wooden hut he lived in was built on Dealy Plaza. The reconstruction dates from 1936. Anyone who is in the city should not miss a short visit.
Magnolia Hotel in Dallas
The Magnolia Hotel in the city of Dallas was built in 1921 in the style of Beaux-Arts. The 29-story building was the tallest building in the city and throughout Texas for many years. Since 1934 the sculpture of a red horse, called Red Pegasus, has been on the roof of the building.
| Contact | 1401 Commerce Street Dallas, Texas 75201 |
1UpTravel.com – Maps of Texas
Browse a collection of state, city, national park, monument, thematic, and historical maps of this US state. Check out the maps of Big Bend National Park.
Website: http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/texas.html
Texas – Department of Transportation County Maps
Explore Texas through detailed county maps. Includes a text index for those searching by county name, as well as a graphic interface.
Website: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/txdot/TXDOTCounty.html
Texas – National Geographic Map Machine
See a shaded-relief map of the Lone Star State and learn how many people live there. Includes a brief profile of the economy.
Website: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/atlas/usstates/stexas
Texas – University of Texas Library
Comprehensive resource presents over 150 maps, divided into state, city, historical city, county, and state and national park sections.
Website: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/texas_deta
Texas – US Census Bureau Map
Learn about this large state by using a clickable map that’s separated by county. Includes population estimates and an economic census.
Website: http://www.census.gov/datamap/www/48.html
