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Explore Our State’s Indigenous Roots and More From Texas Highways

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Texas Highways Magazine
Sahawe Dancers honor their culture at the Comanche Pow-Wow.

Photo by John Clark

Honoring the Culture of Indigenous Texans

 

Every November, the U.S. celebrates National Native American Heritage Month, honoring the culture and history of Indigenous people across the country. The month of commemoration began in 1990, when President George H.W. Bush issued a proclamation that designated November as the time when “Americans of all ages recognize the many outstanding achievements of this country’s original inhabitants and their descendants.”

In May 1974, when Texas Highways was first made available to the public, the entire issue was devoted to Native Americans in the state. In one feature, we explored the history of Native Texans—from the arrival of the Spaniards in the 17th century to the last big battle over tribal lands in 1874. There was also a photo essay of the Alabama and Coushatta tribes dancing to retain their identity and culture.

That issue set a standard for covering the state’s Indigenous roots that Texas Highways strives to maintain to this day. Recent stories include a dive into Indigenous food traditions by Robyn Ross and writer-at-large ire’ne lara silva’s personal journey traveling El Camino Real de los Tejas. This year, W.K. Stratton visited the Comanche Medicine Mounds near Quanah, named for the legendary Comanche leader Quanah Parker; writer-at-large John Nova Lomax documented the revitalization efforts of the Karankawa tribe; and associate editor Julia Jones covered the native tradition of making baskets with pine needles.

Keep these stories in mind as you celebrate National Native American Heritage Month. And let us know if there are any other stories needing to be told about Native Texans by sending a note to letters@texashighways.com.


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A mockingbird perched on top of a prickly pear cactus.
Photo by Kevin B. Stillman

A Guide to the State Symbols of Texas

 

Texas has 76 official state symbols adopted by Texas legislatures since 1901, and that’s not counting the state flag.

idalgo’s West have the option to order their burger with a cheese enchilada on top.
Photo by Ali Khan

San Angelo Is a Mecca for Mexican Burgers

 

After receiving a tip, one foodie travels to San Angelo to try some Mexican restaurant burgers that are worth the road trip.


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Texas Honky-Tonker Charley Crockett tips his hat with a scenic West Texas in the background.
Photo by Bobby Cochran

Texas Honky-Tonker Charley Crockett’s Journey From the Street Corner to the Marquee Lights

 

Born in San Benito and raised in Dallas, Charley Crockett has honed a ‘Gulf & Western’ sound that captures audiences across the globe.

A vintage image with a group of workers wearing Dickies in front of a company branded trailer.
Photo courtesy Dickies

How Fort Worth’s Dickies Went from Work Wear to Fashion Trend

 

For a Texas company founded 100 years ago, Dickies has transcended its original purpose for the average worker to be a brand that is about as mainstream as it gets.


TRUE TEXAS TRIVIA

 

The Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport once had the longest runway in the nation because it was the first all-jet mechanic training base. Today, it is the seventh-longest civilian runway.


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Published monthly by the Texas Department of Transportation’s Travel Information Division, Texas Highways, the official travel magazine of Texas, encourages travel to and within the Lone Star State and tells the Texas story to readers around the world.

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