July 19, 2023

A buggy driver stops with his horse and cattle at a watering hole near Victoria in 1910. (Portal to Texas History)

Battling the summer heat is and always has been a rite of passage for Texans. The personal memoirs of early Texas pioneers are a testament to this: 

"Day after day and week after week the weather was of the same distressing character—an hour or two of pouring, beating, tropical rain, and then an hour or two of such awful heat and baleful sunshine, as the language happily has no words to describe...." (From All the Days of My Life by Amelia Edith Huddleson Barr, published 1913.)

While we encourage extreme caution when venturing outdoors in these conditions, we know that some folks can't bear to stay cooped up with only so many days of summer left. So we've come up with a few excursions that mostly avoid the 'baleful sunshine' and make maximum use of your car's A/C. 

History Grows on Trees

Muster Oak in La Grange, c. 1900. Source: Fayette Heritage Museum/Archives

Don't knock nature's original air-conditioning. Back in the day, if you found yourself gently broiling under the Texas sun with no shelter in sight, fortune was a long shadow cast by the limb of a hearty oak. 

We've made a list of some of the biggest, oldest, and shadiest Texans around (of the arboreal variety, of course). Some of these trees are famous roadside attractions, while others are found only by expedition deep into wooded reserves, so you can pick your tree by proximity or adventure level. In any case, mind your manners in their presence. These gentle giants are your elders' elders' elders. 

Texans Give You an Earful

Podcasts by Texans, about Texas, for your long Texas drives. 

When the heat index is this high, it's tempting to spend a weekend on your couch. But for those still determined to get out and do something, can we recommend a spontaneous drive off the beaten path? Maybe this is the summer you'll finally see those seashell graves found in Comfort Cemetery, take part in the weekly noodle-making at the Wendish Heritage Museum, or sit in on a jam session outside the Oldtime String Shop in downtown Nacogdoches.   

Just plug in your GPS, crank up the A/C, and turn on a podcast for the journey to your next bucket-list heritage destination. And while we're on the subject, here's a roundup of podcasts that each put their unique spin on Texas heritage. In the hands of these storytellers, we promise the miles will fly by. 

Upcoming Heritage Events in Texas

Presidential papers, behind the scenes of Lonesome Dove, and kolaches, kolaches, KOLACHES!   White gloves are provided by the Silsbee Ice House Museum for this rare chance to examine original presidential papers from their collection, including letters from President Lyndon Johnson, congressional correspondence from 1824 that mentions Daniel Webster, and more.   Watch a family-friendly musical about the Texas Panhandle, lighting and special effects included, in an  outdoor amphitheater carved out of canyon rock.   Go behind the scenes of Lonesome Dove via personal photographs taken by screenwriter Bill Wittliff, and find out where in Tarrant County Larry McMurtry got the name for his famous novel.   Eat kolaches to your heart’s content at the second annual Kolache Festival, featuring a kolache eating contest, a baking competition, the crowning of Miss Kolache, and of course, live polka music. Celebrate Alpine's Hispanic heritage at this street festival, featuring a car show and Grammy award-winning Tejano legend, Augustin Ramirez.   Ever been to a party...for a highway? Go a little wild as you discover the rich history of the Panhandle communities along U.S. Highway 83.