Texas' Historical Milestones On This Day July 13th

On this day in Texas history, we look back at significant events that shaped the state. One such event took place in 1859, in the Brownsville area, where clashes between Anglo lawmen and Juan Nepomuceno "Cheno" Cortina began. The tension escalated when Cortina killed Brownsville city marshal Robert Shears, sparking what would be known as the "Cortina War." This conflict spanned over 16 years, finally coming to an end in 1875 when Cortina was arrested and removed to Mexico City.

Moving forward to 1903, another important incident occurred. The Texas Legislature stepped up to offer a reward of $50,000 to anyone who could devise a way to eradicate the boll weevil, a destructive pest that had been wreaking havoc on cotton crops. The prize remained unclaimed, as finding a solution to this problem proved elusive.

In more recent history, the year 1998 marked a significant moment. "Image of an Assassination" went on sale, a documentary video capturing Abraham Zapruder's home video of U.S. President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. This video has since become an important historical artifact, providing valuable insights into that fateful day.