September 4th throughout the years. From historical hurricanes to hospital designations, Texas has had its fair share of noteworthy occurrences.
One of the earliest recorded events happened in 1766 when the first hurricane hit near Galveston. Hurricanes have long been a part of Texas’ history, and this was the first documented instance, marking the beginning of a tumultuous relationship between the state and these natural disasters.
Jumping ahead to 1839, we find the steamer Cayuga making headlines. The river steamer was sold and mysteriously vanished from historical records. What made this vessel particularly interesting was its previous life as the floating capitol of the Republic of Texas. Its disappearance remains a curious mystery, leaving historians scratching their heads.
Moving on to a more widely known event, we come to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. On this day, the people of Galveston became aware of a hurricane moving northward over Cuba. Little did they know the devastating impact it would have when it hit their city on September 8. This hurricane remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, with an estimated death toll of 6,000 to 12,000 people.
Shifting gears to a military event, we highlight the designation of Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio in 1942. Previously known as the station hospital at Fort Sam Houston, it was renamed to honor General John R. Brooke. This hospital played a crucial role in providing medical care for soldiers during World War II and beyond.
Lastly, we touch upon the University of Lebanon, which faced a significant change in 1964. The university was renamed the University of Plano to better reflect its location. However, financial difficulties led to its closure in 1976.