Austin and Texas History: Texas History

A Lone Star Is Born

One way to understand the centuries-long sweep of Texas history is through the evolution of the state's mapped boundaries. The colonial, republic and early statehood periods in the 18th and 19th centuries yielded maps that, put in chronological order, show the Lone Star State we know today being born. 

Lone Star from Colony to Republic to State (1700s - 1846)

Map of Texas Colony & Adjacent Regions in the 1700s

Native Americans were a potent force during Texas' colonial period. Among the various tribes was a mutually beneficial alliance aimed at keeping the peace and providing protection: the Caddo confederacies (noted in map) centered on the Red River in East Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The English word “Texas” stems from the Caddo word “thecas” (meaning “allies” or “friends”) by way of the Spanish spelling “tejas.” Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 2966.

Map of Texas Colony Showing Land Grants (circa 1832)

The Spanish dominated Texas' colonial period by building numerous missions, institutions aimed at incorporating Native Americans into the Spanish empire. The Spanish founded the San Antonio mission (the Alamo) in 1718. At the time Texas was part of Mexico, a Spanish province until declaring independence in 1821. Independent Mexico gave American Stephen F. Austin a land grant to colonize in 1822, which by 1832 had about 8,000 inhabitants along the Brazos and Colorado Rivers (noted in map). Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 0421.

Map of Texas Republic (1836)

Antonio López de Santa Anna assumed power over Mexico in 1833. The Mexican Texas colonies established by Stephen F. Austin and other empresarios were populated largely by American immigrants. Antagonized by Santa Anna's dictatorship, the colonists rebelled in the Texas Revolution of 1835-1836 and ultimately declared independence on March 2, 1836. They established a constitutional republic just like the U.S. they had left behind. This map appeared the year the Republic of Texas was born. Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 0040.

Map of Texas Republic (1840)

Modeled after the U.S. government, the Republic of Texas was governed by a constitution that established three co-equal branches of government, including a bicameral congress. The national capital was temporarily near the Gulf Coast (first in Columbia then Houston) and moved further inland upon Austin's founding in 1839. This 1840 map might be one of the first to show Austin as the capital of Texas. Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 1404.

Map of Texas Republic (1844)

The Republic of Texas' claimed boundaries covered an enormous territory, including portions of present-day New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. But the nation was poor, sparsely populated and eager to join the United States. Mexico disputed not only Texas' independence but its claimed southern boundary at the Rio Grande River. Mexico countered that the southern boundary was further north at the Nueces River. This dispute would not be settled until after Texas became a U.S. state. Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 0905.

Map of the State of Texas, Mexico, California (1847)

Texas was admitted to the United States on December 29, 1845, and the formal transfer of power from the Republic to the State of Texas happened on February 19, 1846 in Austin. The Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 settled Texas' southern boundary at the Rio Grande River. Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 0398.

Sketch of the State of Texas (1850)

The Compromise of 1850 enacted by the U.S. Congress shrunk the former republic's northwestern boundaries to the Panhandle proportions we know today. This 1850 sketch by the U.S. General Land Office mapped the proposed northwestern boundary lines then being debated in Congress. Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 0380.

Map of the State of Texas (1858)

The Lone Star State in the shape we know it today. The lower right corner of this 1858 map contains an engraving of the then-current State Capitol in Austin. This building housed state government from 1853 to 1881. Image: Texas State Archives Map Number 1201.

Texas History Resources

Bullock Texas State History Museum
"We steward the display of Texas artifacts from around the world." photograph of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, with the flags out front and a few clouds in a blue sky.

 

LBJ Presidential Library & MuseumPhotograph of LBJ Library from under the branches of a tree on the lawn
"The Library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, 650,000 photos and 5,000 hours of recordings from President Johnson's political career."

 

 

 

 

Texas Memorial Museum Photograph of Austin's First museum, the Texas Memorial Museum.

Austin's first science museum. (Closed Until Fall of 2023)

Texas Military Forces MuseumPhotograph of Texas Military Forces museum including sign with name and hours in front.
"The museum maintains a library of military history publications consisting of over 10,000 books and periodicals." 

 

 

 

 

Texas Music MuseumPhotograph of Texas Music Museum at the corner of San Marcos Street and 11th street with signs at corner.
"The Texas Music Museum collects and preserves artifacts, documents and reference material surrounding the diverse traditions of Texas music."

 

Briscoe Center for American History, UT AustinPhotograph of the Briscoe Museum with trees, flags and grass out front on a sunny day.
"The Briscoe Center for American History is the major repository at The University for historical documents of Texas, the South, and Southwest."

 

 

 

 

Harry Ransom Center, UT Austin
"Ransom Center collections [...] contain items relating to Texas history and letters" Photograph of the Harry Ransom Center from Guadalupe Street, green trees during summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Texas General Land Office
 "Established in 1837, the Archives consist of land grant records and maps dating toPhotograph of Texas General Land office and lawn. the 16th century that detail the passage of Texas public lands to private ownership."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas State Capitol
"Capitol History, Historic Photographs," Photograph of the Texas State Capitol building promenade

 

Texas Archival Resources Online (TARO)TARO logo on a leaf

A collection of descriptions or "finding aids" for archives, libraries, and museums across Texas.

Texas Archive of the Moving ImageTexas Archive of the Moving Image logo with Texas flag bordered by film strip boxes