1. In 1836, during the Texas Revolution, the Battle of San Jacinto began. Led by General Sam Houston, Texan forces surprised Mexican troops under General Santa Anna and won a decisive victory, effectively securing Texas' independence.

2. In 1895, the Texas State Capitol building in Austin was dedicated. The current building, completed in 1888, replaced an earlier Capitol destroyed by fire in 1881. It remains a prominent landmark and symbol of Texas government today.

3. In 1968, the landmark civil rights case Jones v. Mayer went before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case challenged the legality of racial discrimination in home sales, and resulted in a historic decision affirming the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and providing further protections against housing discrimination.

4. In 1993, the Branch Davidian siege near Waco ended in tragedy with the deaths of over 70 members of the religious sect, including their leader David Koresh. The lengthy standoff and eventual raid by federal agents drew national attention and sparked controversy over government use of force and religious freedom.

5. In 2006, Irene S. Rosenfeld was named CEO of Kraft Foods, becoming one of the highest-ranking women in the food industry. Rosenfeld, a native Texan and graduate of Cornell University, was widely credited with turning around the struggling company, expanding its product lines and increasing profits.