1. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Texas due to the state's historical ties to Mexico. This holiday commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

2. On May 5, 1836, just a few weeks after the Battle of San Jacinto secured Texas' independence from Mexico, the newly elected Congress of the Republic of Texas met for the first time in Columbia (now West Columbia).

3. May 5, 1891, saw the opening of the famous Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin. Named after cattle baron Jesse Driskill, the hotel hosted countless politicians, artists, and other prominent figures throughout its history.

4. On May 5, 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed construction of the Texas State Capitol building in Austin. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, the building is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state.

5. In 1961, on May 5th, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space as part of the Mercury program. Shepard, a native of Derry, New Hampshire, had been working as a test pilot for the U.S. Navy before joining NASA's inaugural astronaut class.