Texas' Historical Milestones On This Day May 17th

In Texas, May 17 throughout the years, a number of significant events have taken place. From battles to townsite plots, Texas has seen it all.

In 1839, Manuel Flores and his band were defeated by Texas Rangers on the North San Gabriel. The group had killed four members of a party of surveyors a few days prior, between Sequin and San Antonio. This nearly 200-year-old event highlights the historical importance of the Texas Rangers in protecting the state and its citizens.

In 1865, the last of 1,200 Federal prisoners left Camp Ford, located several miles northeast of Tyler. It wasn't the only prisoner-of-war camp in Texas during the Civil War, but it was the largest. Thousands of Union soldiers were held there, with more than 300 dying due to injuries, disease, or the harsh conditions.

1893 saw the Texas City Improvement Company file the first townsite plat in Texas City. The company was established by investors from Pennsylvania, who put forth the idea of building a city on the Gulf of Mexico. By 1930, Texas City had become a hub of oil refining and was the third-largest city in Galveston County.

On this day in 1913, the new Rice Hotel building opened in Houston. It was an 18-story structure designed by Mauran, Russell and Crowell architects who also designed the Petroleum Building in downtown Dallas. The hotel was a booming success, known for its luxury and sophistication, as well as for hosting famous guests over the years such as Elvis Presley and Lady Bird Johnson.

In 1922, singer and composer Leon Roger Payne entered the Texas School for the Blind. With a talent for music, Payne's work was later recorded by famous artists such as Elvis Presley and Dean Martin. He traveled the world as a touring musician, also appearing in movies and on television shows.

In 2000, the Eagles filed a lawsuit against the "Hotel California" restaurant in Dallas, alleging trademark violations. This song, one of the band's greatest hits, is protected by trademark law, and the Eagles were within their legal rights to pursue legal action.

In 2015, violence erupted when members from multiple motorcycle gangs began fighting at a Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco. Nine people were killed, and 18 others were injured. It was a tragic event that highlighted the dangers of gang violence.