On December 24th, there are many notable events that have occurred in Texas history. From the founding of cities to tragic incidents, the history of Texas is rich and varied.
One of the earliest events on this day was in 1759 when Captain Alonso Rubín de Celis reached La Junta de los Ríos, the present-day site of Ojinaga, Chihuahua. It was at this site that he built Presidio del Norte, marking an important moment in the history of the region.
In 1810, John Neely Bryan, the founder of the city of Dallas, was born in Fayetteville, TN. Bryan was a Presbyterian farmer, lawyer, and tradesman who played a pivotal role in the development of Dallas, Texas.
Moving forward to 1838, the community of Zavala, also known as Muster Point, was officially incorporated in Jasper County, adding to the growing list of settlements in the state.
1852 saw an important technological advancement in Texas, as the first railroad locomotive was put into service by the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway.
Not all events on this day were positive, however. In 1954, musician Johnny Ace tragically shot himself and died while playing Russian roulette backstage at a concert in Houston, TX.
In 2000, a group of convicts known as the “Texas 7” made headlines when they escaped from a Texas prison and robbed a sports store in Irving, TX. This incident resulted in the death of Officer Aubrey Hawkins and a statewide manhunt for the perpetrators.