1. On January 26, 1837, the Republic of Texas officially adopted its first constitution. The document established a government system similar to that of the United States and granted citizens the right to vote regardless of race or ethnicity.

2. In 1841, a group of Texans led by Mirabeau B. Lamar attacked a Mexican garrison at the Battle of Mier on January 26. Although the Texans initially appeared victorious, they were eventually captured and sent to prison in Mexico.

3. On January 26, 1861, Texas seceded from the United States and joined the Confederacy during the Civil War. The state remained a part of the Confederacy until 1865, when it was readmitted to the Union.

4. In 1900, a devastating hurricane struck the Gulf Coast of Texas on January 26, causing widespread destruction and claiming more than 6,000 lives. The storm remains one of the most deadly natural disasters in US history.

5. On January 26, 1965, the Houston Astrodome opened its doors for the first time. Dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the stadium was the first to feature a retractable roof and was home to the Houston Astros and Houston Oilers for many years.