News Around Texas

History is not just about long-ago events. History is being made every day.

On this day in 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff. On board was Texas astronaut Judith Arlene Resnik. Seventeen years later (on Feb. 1, 2003) the space shuttle Columbia disentegrated over Texas as it prepared for landing. The vapor trail following the disaster was visible over much of the state, and many citizens took part in search and recovery efforts.

• Ask several people if they remember where they were when the Challenger and/or Columbia were lost. How did it affect or impact them?
• This would be a great time to plan a field trip to the Johnson Space Center in Houston (http://www.spacecenter.org/).
• Three space shuttles–Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor–are still flying. The shuttle program was scheduled to retire this year (2010)–the final chapter in a significant era of history. Learn more about the history of the program and efforts by some to extend space shuttle flights.

This is history in the making!

It would be nearly impossible to overemphasize the significance of the discovery of oil in Texas!

To celebrate this important milestone, your family might enjoy a field trip to Beaumont at the heart of the East Texas oilfields. The Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday from 1-5. (Note that they are closed on Mondays.) Admission is a very reasonable $3 for adults, $1 for children.

Visit their website (http://www.spindletop.org/) for more information, maps, and contact numbers.

If you live in the Texas hill country (or if you can manage to get there), the Texas Hill Country Regional Lighting Trail provides a holiday feast for the eyes. Eleven communities (Boerne, Burnet, Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Goldthwaite, Johnson City, Llano, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Round Mountain, and Wimberly) host celebrations rich in heritage at the heart of Texas!

Check the website for event schedules and maps.

A feature city in the annual Trail of Lights that reaches through the Pineywoods into northern Louisiana, the Wonderland of Lights in Marshall, Texas is the granddaddy of them all!

Crowned with over 10 million lights, the display begins the night before Thanksgiving and lasts through New Year’s Eve, December 31.

It’s never too late to take a family drive through Marshall.

Christmas time is always a good time to schedule a trip to San Antonio!

First stop–Paseo del Rio. The downtown river walk transforms into a holiday festival of lights and sounds during la Fiesta de las Luminarias each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday December 4-20. Boatloads of carollers drift through the twinkling reflection of colored lights draped from centuries-old trees as you stroll, shop, and sample delicious foods from a variety of cultures. Check the River Walk website for coupons and details.

While you’re there, why not enjoy the Institute of Texan Cultures? No matter where your family came from or how long ago you arrived in Texas, you’ll find a tribute to your cultural contribution at this interactive museum dedicated to telling the stories of Texans.

Of course, a visit to the San Antonio missions is always interesting. Plan your trip to include not only the Alamo, but also Missions San Jose, San Juan, Conception, and San Francisco de la Espada. San Antonio visitor information will help you plan your trip.

And finally, my personal favorite! No trip to San Antonio is as memorable as it could be without a visit to the Guenther House, home of Pioneer Flour Mills. Every item on their breakfast, lunch, and brunch menu has passed the tests of time and taste. While you wait, you can tour the historic home that houses the restaurant, browse their enticing gift shop, or simply enjoy the gardens that overlook the San Antonio River and King William district.

Candlelight at the Ranch, an annual event at the National Ranching Heritage Center on Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock, captures the traditional spirit of a pioneer Christmas. Step back in time as you walk along paths lit with luminarias. Enjoy the songs cowboys might have shared around a campfire on the open prairie over a century ago. Or warm up with hot cider and fresh popcorn as historical interpreters trim the tree with homemade decorations.

The event is free, but donations to are welcome. For more information, contact Emily Arellano at (806) 742-0498 or via e-mail at Emily.Arellano@ttu.edu 

Check back often for ideas for teaching, field trips and everything Texas.