1. On April 22, 1885, the first official state fair of Texas was held in Dallas. The fair attracted over 100,000 people and remains a popular event to this day.

2. April 22, 1966, was the date of the infamous University of Texas at Austin Tower shooting, where a lone gunman killed 14 people and injured 31 others before being killed by police. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.

3. On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated in the United States, drawing attention to environmental issues and urging people to take action to protect the planet. Texas has since become a leader in renewable energy production.

4. In 1836, on April 22, Texas struggled to win independence from Mexico during the Battle of San Jacinto. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texan army managed to defeat the Mexican army in just 18 minutes, securing Texas' independence.

5. April 22, 1932, marks the date of the Ranger Eastland disaster, a train collision that killed at least 72 people and injured hundreds of others. The tragedy remains one of the deadliest train accidents in U.S. history.