1. In 1839, the Congress of the Republic of Texas approved the charter of the first ever railroad to be built in Texas, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway Company. This was an important milestone in the transportation infrastructure of Texas, which helped to connect the state's major cities and ports.

2. On July 26, 1847, an important battle of the Mexican-American War was fought near the village of Santa Fe in Mexico. The Battle of Santa Fe saw a group of Texan volunteers under the command of Colonel Sterling Price defeat a larger force of Mexican soldiers, helping to secure New Mexico for the United States.

3. 1870 saw the founding of the Texas State Capitol building in Austin, which eventually became one of the most iconic landmarks of Texas. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, the Capitol building is one of the largest state capitol buildings in the country and is constructed using local pink granite.

4. In 1926, the legendary golfer and Texas native Byron Nelson was born in Fort Worth. Over the course of his career, Nelson won five major championships and was known for his accuracy and consistency on the golf course, earning him the nickname "Lord Byron".

5. On July 26, 1971, the Texas Rangers baseball team played their first game at Arlington Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The stadium, which was home to the Rangers for over two decades, was known for its unique sunken dugouts and artificial turf playing surface, which was one of the first of its kind in baseball.