1. In 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto Monument groundbreaking ceremony was held in present-day La Porte, Texas. The ceremony was in honor of the victory at the Battle of San Jacinto, which secured Texas' independence from Mexico.

2. On August 20, 1866, the Texas State Police was established. It was the first statewide law enforcement agency in Texas and served as a precursor to the Texas Rangers.

3. The first Texas Cowboy Reunion was held on August 20, 1930, in Stamford, Texas. The reunion was a celebration of Texas' cowboy culture and included events like bronc riding, calf roping, and barrel racing.

4. On August 20, 1986, a fire broke out in the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The fire killed 98 people, including several Texans who were attending a conference at the hotel.

5. On August 20, 1998, the Texas Rangers retired the jersey of Nolan Ryan. Ryan is considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history and spent the last five years of his career with the Rangers.