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Evolution of the Texas Rangers, 1836-1920

What does it mean to be a Texas Ranger?

In 1823, Stephen F. Austin hired frontiersmen as rangers to lead expeditions against Native Americans on the frontier.  Twelve years later, on November 24, 1835, Texas lawmakers officially established a force called the Texas Rangers.  Since that time, the Rangers have become a hallmark in Texas history.  From the Republic of Texas era to the early-twentieth century, this exhibition examines how and in what ways the Lone Star State shaped what it meant to be a Texas Ranger.

Come explore the evolution of the Texas Rangers.  See letters, Ranger artifacts, and photographs dating from the earliest days of the Republic to 1920. 


Page last modified: May 20, 2016