Texas Museum

Our class visit to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is one of the coolest places that we have been to yet. I thought it was so much because there was so much to see. I discovered so much about our state’s history and the leaders that made Texas what it is today. While I was at the museum, I saw many leadership qualities while reading about some of the Texas heroes.

On the first floor of the museum, I mostly saw the history of the Native Americans who were the first people that inhabited the land that is now Texas. I admire them so much for their courage and bravery. They had to fight against the Spanish and the Americans so that they could keep their land. Because the Americans had advanced weapons and had numerous men, they were able to defeat the Indians. I also admire the Indians for their amazing strength and intelligence. At the museum, they had a display of their tools, clothes, and teepees which were all handmade. They seemed like such a friendly group of people who just wanted to be left alone in peace. There was a quote by Alvar Nunez de Cabeza de Vaca which said, “The Indians brought us more fish…and brought their women and children that they could see us…they returned rich in the hawk bells and beads that we gave them.”

While walking around, I noticed there was some stuff about women in the South back then. Women were supposed to stay home and take care of their children. They were not allowed to work or vote. Since Texas is in the South, men were even more stubborn when it came to women trying to get better work or getting the right to vote. Women united and became so strong and determined to be heard to get the law passed to vote legally. They finally got the right to vote and played a major role in Texas’ rise to statehood and power in America. Women were nurses and cooks during battles. They were also fighters, pilots, and nurses during World War II.

At the end of our visit at the museum, we watched the Star of Destiny movie. It told the whole history of Texas. In school, I had learned about the prominent leaders such as Sam Houston, David Bowie, and William Travis. They had such strong determination and stayed optimistic that Texas can beat the Spanish at the Alamo and gain statehood. It also told of the many instances where Texans displayed their strength to never give up no matter how bad things become. One example was the hurricane that struck Galveston which is the most severe in history of the United States. Even though all the houses were destroyed, they didn’t leave. They decided to rebuild the whole city.

Texas has always been considered one of the biggest and prideful states in America. Anyone who lives here is more proud to be a Texas than an American. The Texas flag is the only state flag allowed to be raised as high as the U.S. flag. Some of the most prominent Americans in our history have been from Texas. Women and the Native Americans share the qualities of courageous and strong which is what makes them so memorable. I hope Texas’ history will continue to be preserved and shared with all. As the movie said, “the lone star will continue to be the symbol of independence.”