1. On June 8, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, effectively ending slavery in the state. This day is now celebrated as Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in Texas.

2. The USS Texas, a battleship that is now a museum in Houston, was commissioned on June 8, 1914. The ship saw action in both World War I and World War II before being decommissioned in 1948 and becoming a museum in 1948.

3. On June 8, 1929, Fort Worth's Meacham Field officially opened for business. The airport played a major role in aviation history as the site of the first non-stop flight from coast to coast.

4. Country music legend Willie Nelson was born on June 8, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. The singer-songwriter has had a long and successful career, and is known for hits such as "On the Road Again" and "Always on My Mind."

5. On June 8, 1984, the first Texas Folklife Festival kicked off in San Antonio. The festival celebrates the diverse cultures that make up Texas, and features music, dance, crafts, and food from around the state. Today, it is one of the largest cultural festivals in the country.