1. On August 18, 1835, Texan rebels under the direction of William Barret Travis captured the town of Goliad during the Texas Revolution. This victory helped to increase morale among the Texan forces.

2. In 1864, a group of Confederate soldiers led by Captain John "Rip" Ford defeated a Union detachment at the Battle of Palmito Ranch on August 18. This was the last battle of the American Civil War and took place more than a month after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.

3. On August 18, 1909, the first airplane flight in Texas took place at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Army aviator Lieutenant Benjamin Foulois piloted the Wright Model A and reached an altitude of 100 feet.

4. The University of Texas at Austin was founded on August 18, 1883, when Texas Governor John Ireland signed a bill creating the institution. The university originally had eight professors and 221 students.

5. August 18, 1936 saw the famous meeting between labor leader John L. Lewis and Texas oilman H.L. Hunt to discuss unionization efforts in the oil industry. Hunt ultimately refused to recognize the United Mine Workers of America, leading to increased tensions between workers and oil companies.