1. In 1845, Texas became the 28th state to join the United States. July 29th marks the anniversary of this historic event.

2. In 1900, a deadly hurricane struck Galveston, Texas, causing over 8,000 deaths and widespread devastation. The storm remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

3. In 1958, Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated as the Democratic candidate for Vice President at the party's national convention in Los Angeles. Johnson, who was from Texas, would go on to become President following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

4. In 1984, Texas native Carl Lewis won four gold medals in track and field at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Lewis is widely considered one of the greatest athletes in Olympic history.

5. In 2013, a fertilizer plant in West, Texas exploded, killing 15 people and injuring over 200 others. The blast caused significant damage to the surrounding area and remains one of the deadliest industrial accidents in U.S. history.