Cajun Texas are descendants of French colonists, and they first arrived in Texas in the spring of 1770. The group of 30 refugees, who were trying to get to Louisiana from Maryland, was on the schooner Britain, which was blown off course, missing the Mississippi River and ending up at Matagorda Bay. Imprisoned by the Spanish authorities as suspected smugglers, they had to do hard labor at Goliad but were released in October and made a trek across East Texas to Natchitoches, La., and then down to Opelousas.

Read Early Texas Almanac Articles written between 1857 and 1911.

Organized religion shaped Texans and Texas throughout history.

The Alamo originally was built as the chapel of the Mission San Antonio de Valero.

The mysterious "Lady in Blue" has been associated in Texas religious history since 1629.

The remnants of the La Belle, which sank more than 300 years ago, were discovered in the summer of 1995 in Matagorda Bay.

The Sant Cruz mission has been called the "The Lost Mission of Texas." It's exact location was not known until 1993 when the mission site was found in an alfalfa field east of the town of Menard, Texas.

The town of Menard, today a quiet West Texas town with an economy that relies on ranching and oil, witnessed important historical changes that defined West Texas.

San Fernando was the first official and permanent civilian settlement in Texas.

The First Thanksgiving may have been observed in Texas on April 30, 1598 by Spanish explorer Juan de Onate and members of his expedition.

Coronado made his 1540-1542 journey through the high plains of Texas as he searched for the seven gold cities.

The establishment of missions in Texas came in spurts, following the rhythm of the fortunes of Spain.

The first missionaries came to Texas in the mid 1500s.

The annexation of Texas precipitated the Mexican War. As thousands of troops were stationed across Texas, new forts were erected and many of the older ones were abandoned or consolidated with the newer ones.

El Camino Real connected the governmental center of New Spain, in Mexico City, with outposts across the Texas Borderlands.

In 1801, the Spanish government of Mexico became aware of an attempted insurrection by Phillip Nolan to take over the Texas region and quickly realized the economic potential that Texas had.

In 1803, Napoleon sold the Louisiana territory to the United States, and Anglo-Americans cast longing eyes on what they considered a vast undeveloped territory that extended west of the lands adquired through the Louisiana Purchase.

Texas early European exploration and development set the stage for the Texas of today.

European exploration of North America and what is now Texas began in the 15th century.