1. On November 17, 1835, the Consultation of Texas, a gathering of Texan leaders who were fighting for independence from Mexico, began in San Felipe de Austin. This meeting laid the groundwork for the drafting of the Texas Declaration of Independence the following year.

2. In 1856, the Lone Star State welcomed its first train when the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railroad opened between Harrisburg and Stafford. This historic railway helped spur the growth of Houston and other Texas cities.

3. On November 17, 1923, the first field goal was scored in a college football game played under the lights in Texas. Rice University defeated the University of Texas 7-0 in a game played at Rice's stadium, which had recently installed a lighting system.

4. In 1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history, reached its climax off the coast of the Philippines. The USS Texas, a battleship that had been commissioned in 1914 and served in both World War I and World War II, played a crucial role in this decisive victory for the Allies.

5. On November 17, 1968, the University of Texas defeated Texas A&M University 35-14 in a football game played in Austin. This victory secured the Longhorns' spot in the Cotton Bowl, which they would go on to win later that season. The game is also notable for featuring a halftime performance by legendary musician Janis Joplin.