1. On December 27, 1836, the Republic of Texas officially recognized the Cherokee Nation in Texas. This recognition allowed the Cherokee to become citizens of the Republic of Texas, and it gave them the right to hold and own property.

2. In 1862, during the American Civil War, Union troops under the command of General Nathanial Banks captured the town of Galveston, Texas. The Confederate army would reclaim the city on January 1, making it the only Confederate victory on that day.

3. The first oil well in Texas was drilled on December 27, 1900, in Beaumont, Texas. Known as the Lucas Gusher, the well produced 100,000 barrels of oil per day, and it would lead to an oil boom in Texas that would transform the state's economy.

4. On December 27, 1941, the Bankhead Highway Association officially scrapped plans to build a transcontinental highway from Washington D.C. to San Diego. The project was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.

5. In 1995, the Texas Rangers signed Ivan Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star and Hall of Fame catcher, to a contract extension on December 27. Rodriguez played in Texas for 13 seasons, helping lead the team to its first-ever playoff appearance in 1996.