April 22nd in 1540, Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado embarked on an expedition in search of the Seven Cities of Cíbola, starting from Culiacán in Mexico. Fast forward to 1689 when Alonso León, another Spanish explorer, discovered the ruins of a French settlement, Fort St. Louis, on the Texas coast.
1836 marked a pivotal moment in Texas history when Santa Anna, the Mexican president, was captured by the Texan army at San Jacinto. This led to the agreement where Mexican soldiers were required to evacuate Texas.
Jumping ahead to 1967, Randy Matson set a world record with a shot put toss of 71 feet and 5 1/2 inches in College Station, TX. The day also saw the reopening of the iconic Texas Giant roller coaster in Arlington as part of the Six Flags Over Texas 50th anniversary celebration in 2011.
These events, along with many others, have played crucial roles in shaping the diverse and vibrant history of the Lone Star State.