----- Original Message ----- 
 From: Ray Shaw
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2003 11:04 AM
Subject: Texas facts


    NO ONE ASKED FOR FACTS ABOUT TEXAS,  BUT HERE GOES ANYWAY!


    World's first rodeo was in  Pecos ... July 4, 1883.

   The Flagship Hotel in  Galveston is the only hotel in North America
    built
    over water.

    The Heisman Trophy was  named after John William Heisman who was the
    first full time coach  for Rice University, Houston.

    Brazoria County has more  species of birds than any other area in
    North
    America.

    Aransas Wildlife Refuge is  the winter home of North America's only
    remaining flock of  whooping cranes. *** PRIDE HERE!

   Jalapeno jelly originated  in Lake Jackson in 1978.

   The worst natural disaster  in U.S. history was in 1900 caused by a
   hurricane in which over  8000 lives were lost on Galveston Island.

    The first word spoken from  the moon, July 20, 1969, was "Houston."

    El Paso is closer to  California than to Dallas.

    Laredo is the world's  largest inland port.

    Tyler Municipal Rose Garden  is the world's largest rose garden with
    over
    38,000 bushes with  500 varieties on 22 acres.

    The State shell is  Lightning Whelk

    King Ranch is larger than  Rhode Island.

    Tropical Storm Claudette  brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43" in 24
    hours in and around  Alvin in July 1979.

    Texas is the only state to  enter the U.S. by TREATY, instead of by
    annexation.

    A Live Oak tree near Fulton  is estimated to be 1500 years old. ***
    MORE
    PRIDE HERE!!!

    Caddo Lake is the only  natural lake in the state.

    Dr Pepper was invented in  Waco in 1885

    There is no period after Dr  in Dr Pepper.

    Texas has had six capital  cities ...
    1. Washington-on-the-Brazos
    2.   Harrisburg
    3. Galveston
    4. Velasco
    5. West Columbia
    6. Austin

    The Capitol Dome in Austin  is the only dome in the U.S. which is
    taller
    than the Capitol  Building in Washington D.C. (by 7 feet)

    The name Texas comes from  the Hasini Indian word "tejas" meaning
    friends.

    The State animal is the  Armadillo

    The first domed stadium in  the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston.