Americans have often asked each other, “Where were you when Kennedy was shot?” Many recalled precisely where they were when they learned that the president had been assassinated, and the incident became part of the identity of the city of Dallas. Other Texas cities and sites have become associated with headline-making episodes that brought the state into the public eye.
“Houston, we have a problem” will forever connect Texas to the space program. The Galveston Hurricane holds the terrible legacy of the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States. Spindletop, an oilfield in Southeast Texas, became shorthand for the oil boom that changed the trajectory of the nation’s economy.
Other incidents may be lesser known in the modern era but had an enormous impact when they occurred. While significant stories of the past are often filled with pain and suffering, the simultaneous sharing of the knowledge through the news media connected people from beyond the borders of Texas. Each event affected many Texans and continues to define the state’s history through the documents and images left behind.
View the online exhibit of Extra! Extra! Eyes of the World on Texas
Current Exhibit
Extra! Extra! Eyes of the
World on Texas
Past Exhibits
Beyond the Badge: The Work and Records of the Texas Rangers
Texas Governors and Their Times - 1846-1946
Archives À la Carte - Staff Picks
Texans Take to the Trenches
The Lone Star State and the
Great War
The Talking Book Program Volunteer Recording Studio Turns 40
Setting Up Camp, The Early History of Texas State Parks
Wish You Were Here!
Historic Postcards from Texas
Evolution of the Texas Rangers, 1836–1920
Texans' Struggle for Freedom and Equality
Texas in Focus: Early Photographs from the State Archives
'Texas Moves Toward Statehood' Stories Behind the Mural
Texas Republic Legation Papers
Travis' 1836 Victory or Death Letter from the Alamo
The Journeay Violin and the Mier Expedition (Black Bean Episode)
View past exhibits here
TSLAC regularly exhibits treasures from its collections in the lobby of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building. We encourage you to visit to see these pieces of history for yourself. Of course we understand that not everyone is able to stop by 1201 Brazos Street in Austin, so we’ve digitized most of what we display for you to view here online. Please feel free to browse our current and previous exhibits linked to from this page.