1. In 1540, Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and his expedition passed through the Texas panhandle region. They were seeking the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola, which were believed to be rich with gold and jewels.

2. On July 9, 1856, inventor and businessman Charles Alderton was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is credited with creating the recipe for Dr Pepper, which was originally created in Waco, Texas in 1885.

3. In 1868, the state of Texas readmitted to the United States after having seceded during the Civil War. It was the last Confederate state to be readmitted.

4. On July 9, 1945, a B-25 bomber crashed into the Empire State Building in New York City, killing 14 people and causing significant damage to the building. Among the victims was Staff Sergeant Christopher Domitrovich, a Texas native.

5. In 2016, a deadly heat wave hit Texas, causing temperatures to soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for several consecutive days. The extreme heat caused power outages and water shortages across the state, and was responsible for several deaths.