1. On July 24, 1845, the United States Congress approved the annexation of Texas, making it the 28th state in the Union. This decision sparked controversy between supporters and opponents of slavery, as Texas had previously been an independent republic with a slave-based economy.

2. Texas Tech University, a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, was established on July 24, 1923. The university is known for its strong STEM programs and has produced notable alumni such as former FBI director Robert Mueller and football coach Kliff Kingsbury.

3. In 1974, on July 24th, the Houston Astros played their first game at the Astrodome with a newly installed $2 million scoreboard. The scoreboard, which was the world's largest at the time, featured a 474-foot-long by 75-foot-high screen.

4. On July 24, 1995, the Republic of Texas separatist group held hostage two American tourists, demanding that the United States recognize Texas as a sovereign nation. The standoff lasted 45 days and ended with the release of the hostages and the arrest of the leaders of the separatist group.

5. Texas Governor Ann Richards famously gave a fiery speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention on July 24th, declaring that "after all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels." The quote has since become a feminist rallying cry and Richards is remembered as a trailblazing politician in Texas history.