Texas' Historical Milestones On This Day May 11th.

Texas History: Tragic Events and Milestones

Filled with both joyous moments and tragedies. On May 11th throughout history, Texas has experienced both. In 1953, Waco, TX, faced a devastating tornado that killed 114 people and wiped out nearly 200 businesses. In 1970, Lubbock, TX, suffered a similar fate with a tornado that killed 26 people and caused over $135 million in damages.

But Texas also reached many milestones throughout history. In 1964, construction began on the Toledo Bend Reservoir, following the massive investment from both Texas and Louisiana. The dam was completed in 1969 and stands today as a testament to the power of diligent human efforts.

In 2003, Texas Rangers' player Rafael Palmeiro hit his 500th career home run. This set him apart from many other baseball players, making him only the 19th player in history to achieve this milestone.

Perhaps one of the most interesting events on this date was the filming of "Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan" for Austin City Limits in 1995. The concert was a collaboration between several iconic blues artists, including B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, and Jimmie Vaughan, to pay tribute to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan.

On a sadder note, in 2016, the highly publicized explosion at the West Fertilizer Company rocked the town of West, killing 15 people and injuring over 160. The ATF eventually discovered that the fire that led to the explosion was intentionally set, making this one of the most tragic and shocking events in Texas history.

Even deeper into Texas history, Colonel Pedro Delgado spoke of the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, a key moment in Texas's history of independence. Events that took place on May 11th are merely a glimpse into the fascinating and varied past of our great state.