Texas has always been a land of defining moments, and many of them took place in the month of April. From the decisive victory at San Jacinto that secured independence, to the opening of HemisFair ’68 in San Antonio, April has marked turning points in politics, culture, business, and everyday life across the state.
Some events brought triumph, like the first baseball game in the Astrodome, while others brought tragedy, such as the Texas City disaster and the West fertilizer explosion. Together, these stories highlight how April has repeatedly shaped the history and identity of Texas.
| Date | Category | Event |
|---|---|---|
| April 1 | Demographics and census | 2000 – Texas becomes the second most populous U.S. state; Census 2000 counts 20,851,820 residents. |
| April 1 | Military and independence | 1813 – Gutiérrez-Magee expedition forces take San Antonio during the Mexican War of Independence. |
| April 2 | Politics and government (Reconstruction) | 1866 – President Andrew Johnson proclaims the insurrection ended in former Confederate states, with Texas excepted until August. |
| April 2 | Sports (horse racing) | 1969 – Trainer Max Hirsch saddles a winner at Aqueduct the day before his death; he trained three Derby winners for King Ranch. |
| April 3 | Exploration and colonial history | 1708 – Ramón expedition returns to San Juan Bautista after reconnaissance into Texas. |
| April 3 | Frontier and biography | 1817 – Birth of Texas Ranger and scout John “Bigfoot” Wallace. |
| April 3 | Civil rights and law | 1944 – Smith v. Allwright ends the Texas white primary. |
| April 3 | Education and scholarship | 1888 – Birth of historian Walter Prescott Webb. |
| April 4 | Colonial military and settlement | 1721 – Aguayo expedition reaches San Antonio; detachment reoccupies La Bahía del Espíritu Santo. |
| April 4 | Journalism and frontier history | 1876 – Death of Texas Ranger-writer Thomas C. “Pidge” Robinson. |
| April 5 | Military and Texas Revolution | 1836 – John A. Quitman’s Natchez Fencibles head to Texas amid the Runaway Scrape. |
| April 5 | Government and symbols | 1961 – Texas Legislature receives painted state-seal watercolors. |
| April 6 | Politics and immigration policy | 1830 – Mexico’s Law of April 6 restricts immigration and empresario contracts in Texas. |
| April 6 | Culture and world’s fair | 1968 – HemisFair ’68 opens in San Antonio; Tower of the Americas becomes a landmark. |
| April 7 | Politics and public safety | 1886 – Laredo Election Riot results in numerous deaths and military intervention. |
| April 7 | Military and veterans | 1970 – Medal of Honor presented to the parents of Staff Sgt. Marvin R. Young. |
| April 8 | Military and Civil War | 1864 – Battle of Mansfield checks the Union Red River Campaign aimed toward East Texas. |
| April 8 | Environment and national parks | 1968 – Padre Island National Seashore is dedicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson. |
| April 9 | Sports and venues | 1965 – First baseball game inside the Astrodome; Astros defeat the Yankees 2–1 in an exhibition. |
| April 9 | Military and Civil War | 1865 – Battle of Pleasant Hill contributes to the Union retreat after Mansfield. |
| April 10 | Sports and baseball | 1962 – Houston Colt .45s win the franchise’s first game, 11–2 over the Cubs. |
| April 10 | Sports business and civic development | 1962 – Franchise launch helps propel the Astrodome vision realized in 1965. |
| April 11 | Science and space | 1970 – NASA launches Apollo 13 with Mission Control in Houston. |
| April 12 | Military and Texas Revolution | 1836 – Mexican forces seize Thompson’s Ferry on the Brazos during the Runaway Scrape. |
| April 13 | Exploration and mission history | 1709 – Olivares and Espinosa reach San Pedro Springs, groundwork for San Antonio. |
| April 13 | Science and space | 1970 – Apollo 13 suffers an oxygen tank explosion; rescue managed from Houston. |
| April 14 | Environment and weather | 1935 – “Black Sunday” Dust Bowl storm darkens the Texas Panhandle. |
| April 15 | Immigration and settlement | 1825 – Empresario contracts issued to Haden Edwards, Green DeWitt, and Robert Leftwich. |
| April 15 | Museums and heritage | 1956 – French Legation Museum opens to the public in Austin. |
| April 16 | Disaster and industrial safety | 1947 – Texas City disaster: SS Grandcamp explodes; widespread damage and casualties. |
| April 16 | Science and space | 1972 – Apollo 16 launches; flight operations run from Houston’s Mission Control. |
| April 17 | Disaster and industrial safety | 2013 – West Fertilizer explosion kills 15 and injures more than 160. |
| April 17 | Military and heritage | 1911 – Keel laid for USS Texas (BB-35), later preserved as a museum ship. |
| April 18 | Politics and government | 1842 – Juan N. Seguín resigns as mayor of San Antonio amid political conflict. |
| April 18 | Military and Texas Revolution | 1836 – Mexican forces capture Thompson’s Ferry on the Brazos during the campaign. |
| April 19 | Law enforcement and public safety | 1993 – Waco siege ends in fire at Mount Carmel after a 51-day standoff. |
| April 19 | Politics and government | 1836 – Republic’s “floating capital” conducts business aboard the steamer Cayuga. |
| April 20 | Immigration and settlement | 1842 – German nobles organize the Adelsverein to promote colonization in Texas. |
| April 20 | Military and Civil War | 1861 – San Antonio artillery company enters Confederate service. |
| April 21 | Military and state history | 1836 – Battle of San Jacinto secures Texas independence; San Jacinto Day observed. |
| April 21 | Culture and monuments | 1939 – San Jacinto Monument dedicated with museum interpreting the revolution. |
| April 22 | Military and state history | 1836 – Santa Anna captured after San Jacinto, accelerating negotiations. |
| April 23 | Arts and culture | 1936 – Roy Orbison born in Vernon; future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. |
| April 23 | Arts and culture | 1892 – Civic charter that evolved into the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. |
| April 24 | Business and energy | 1911 – Magnolia Petroleum Company incorporated in Texas. |
| April 24 | Culture and civic life | 1891 – First Battle of Flowers parade in San Antonio, precursor to Fiesta. |
| April 25 | Military and international conflict | 1846 – Thornton Affair near Brownsville helps trigger the U.S.–Mexican War. |
| April 26 | Military and veterans | 1968 – Actions of PFC Milton A. Lee near Phu Bai earn the Medal of Honor. |
| April 27 | Education, archives, and scholarship | 1950 – Barker Texas History Center opens at UT Austin; later part of the Briscoe Center. |
| April 28 | Civil rights and sports | 1967 – Muhammad Ali refuses induction at Houston’s MEPS; conviction later overturned. |
| April 29 | Maritime history and archaeology | 1554 – Three Spanish treasure ships wreck on Padre Island after a storm. |
| April 30 | Military and naval history | 1843 – Texas Navy engages Mexican steamers off Campeche; first of two actions. |
April 1
2000 — Texas becomes the second‑most‑populous U.S. state (Census 2000).
The U.S. Census Bureau’s official reference date is April 1. The 2000 count put Texas at 20,851,820 residents, up 22.8% from 1990, and moving past New York into the No. 2 spot behind California. TSHA’s “Texas Day by Day” notes the milestone and the decade’s demographic shifts.
1813 — Gutiérrez‑Magee expedition forces take San Antonio.
In the midst of the Mexican War of Independence, José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara’s republican force compelled Spanish governor Manuel María de Salcedo to surrender San Antonio de Béxar. The short‑lived republican regime prefigured later independence movements in Texas.
April 2
1866 — Andrew Johnson proclaims “insurrection” ended in former Confederate states (Texas excepted).
President Johnson’s April 2, 1866 proclamation declared civil war conditions over in 10 Confederate states; a separate August proclamation later addressed Texas specifically. Archives and legal compilations reproduce the text and the follow‑on Aug. 20 order concerning Texas.
1969 — Trainer Max Hirsch’s final winner the day before his death.
Texas‑born Hall of Fame trainer Maximilian “Max” Hirsch saw Heartland win at Aqueduct on April 2; Hirsch died the next day. He trained three Kentucky Derby winners for King Ranch, including Assault (1946 Triple Crown).
April 3
1708 — Ramón expedition returns to San Juan Bautista.
Captain Diego Ramón led an early Spanish reconnaissance into Texas; TSHA’s Ramon Expedition entry places the party’s return April 3, 1708, after scouting routes toward East Texas missions.
1817 — Birth of John “Bigfoot” Wallace.
The famed Texas Ranger and scout, known for campaigns against raiding parties and for his outsized frontier persona, was born April 3, 1817.
1944 — Smith v. Allwright ends the Texas “white primary.”
On April 3, 1944, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas could not bar Black voters from party primaries run by the Democratic Party, reshaping Texas and Southern politics.
1888 — Birth of historian Walter Prescott Webb.
Webb’s works (The Great Plains, The Texas Rangers) influenced generations of Texas historiography; he was born April 3, 1888.
April 4
1721 — The Aguayo expedition reaches San Antonio and occupies La Bahía.
The Marqués de Aguayo led Spain’s large‑scale reoccupation of East Texas. His force reached San Antonio on April 4 while a detachment under Domingo Ramón reoccupied La Bahía del Espíritu Santo the same day—part of Spain’s response to French encroachment.
1876 — Death of Texas Ranger‑writer Thomas C. “Pidge” Robinson.
Robinson’s lively “Pidge” letters from the field (published in Austin) offer rare first‑hand looks at 1870s Ranger life. He died April 4, 1876, days after his last letter appeared.
April 5
1836 — Volunteers continue to flow to Texas (e.g., John A. Quitman’s “Natchez Fencibles”).
Mississippian John A. Quitman led the Natchez Fencibles out on April 5, 1836 to join the Texas fight, part of a broader stream of volunteer companies arriving during the Runaway Scrape period.
1961 — Texas Legislature formally receives painted state‑seal watercolors.
In a joint session on April 5, 1961, lawmakers accepted commissioned watercolors of the State Seal and its reverse; one copy is known to survive at the Texas Memorial Museum.
April 6
1830 — Mexico’s “Law of April 6, 1830.”
Seeking to curb U.S. influence, Mexico restricted immigration, empresario contracts, and slavery expansion in Texas. The law’s enforcement helped spark the Anahuac Disturbances (1832) and fed grievances that led to the Texas Revolution.
1968 — HemisFair ’68 opens in San Antonio.
The first world’s fair held in the U.S. Southwest opened April 6, drawing 6.3 million visitors through October. Lasting landmarks included the Tower of the Americas and the Institute of Texan Cultures.
April 7
1886 — Laredo Election Riot (“Sandals” vs. “Boots”).
Factional politics erupted into a gun battle that required military intervention; contemporary counts vary, but at least 16 deaths were reported. The clash illustrates turbulent South Texas politics in the era.
1970 — Medal of Honor presented to the parents of Staff Sgt. Marvin R. Young (Odessa).
Young was killed in Vietnam in 1967 after covering his unit’s withdrawal under heavy fire. President Richard Nixon presented the Medal of Honor to his parents at the White House on April 7, 1970.
April 8
1864 — Battle of Mansfield (Sabine Crossroads).
Part of the Red River Campaign, the battle in northwest Louisiana (with heavy Texas participation) checked a major Union thrust toward Shreveport and East Texas.
1968 — Padre Island National Seashore is dedicated.
President Lyndon B. Johnson formally dedicated the park on April 8, preserving the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world.
April 9
1965 — First baseball game inside the Astrodome.
Before a sellout crowd, the Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees, 2–1, in the new indoor stadium; Mickey Mantle hit the first Dome home run (in an exhibition). SABR and Houston outlets document the night and dignitaries in attendance.
1865 — Battle of Pleasant Hill (next day of Red River Campaign fighting).
Though tactically indecisive, Pleasant Hill the day after Mansfield helped force a Union retreat, easing immediate pressure on Texas.
April 10
1962 — Houston Colt .45s play—and win—the franchise’s first game.
In their debut (two years before adopting the “Astros” name), the expansion Colt .45s beat the Chicago Cubs 11–2 in Houston. Baseball‑Reference has the box score.
1962 — Franchise launch links to Astrodome vision.
The same civic group behind the Colt .45s propelled the domed‑stadium idea that would culminate in the Astrodome three years later; local archival projects trace that throughline.
April 11
1970 — NASA launches Apollo 13 (Mission Control: Houston).
James Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert lifted off on April 11. An oxygen‑tank failure two days later aborted the landing; the crew’s safe return became a defining moment for NASA’s Houston team.
April 12
1836 — Mexican forces seize Thompson’s Ferry on the Brazos.
As Sam Houston maneuvered east, Santa Anna’s troops captured the crossing at Thompson’s Ferry, tightening pressure on Texian rearguards and civilians during the Runaway Scrape.
April 13
1709 — Olivares and Espinosa reach the future site of San Antonio.
Franciscan explorers Isidro Félix de Espinosa and Antonio de Olivares reached San Pedro Springs, laying groundwork for what became San Antonio and later mission development.
1970 — Apollo 13’s oxygen tank explodes (the “Houston, we’ve had a problem” incident).
Roughly 56 hours into the flight on April 13, an oxygen tank failure crippled the command‑service module, shifting the mission to rescue mode managed through Mission Control Houston.
April 14
1935 — “Black Sunday” Dust Bowl storm darkens the Texas Panhandle.
A massive dust storm turned day to night across parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas; NOAA and NWS retrospectives document timing, visibility near zero, and long‑term land‑use lessons.
Local Texas accounts underscore the impact.
Oral histories and Texas media recount how towns like Pampa were overwhelmed that Palm Sunday, spurring migration and reforms in soil conservation.
April 15
1825 — Empresario contracts to Haden Edwards, Green DeWitt, and Robert Leftwich.
Mexico issued colonization contracts on April 15 to encourage settlement in Coahuila y Tejas. All three efforts encountered serious disputes; Edwards’s colony later became the flashpoint for the Fredonian Rebellion.
1956 — French Legation Museum opens to the public.
The Daughters of the Republic of Texas restored and opened Austin’s French Legation—the 1840s diplomatic post of the Republic of Texas—to visitors on April 15.
April 16
Texas City disaster rocks the Gulf Coast (1947)
A fire aboard the French vessel SS Grandcamp detonated about 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate at 9:12 a.m. in the Port of Texas City. The blast and ensuing fires destroyed much of the waterfront and industrial district, killed hundreds, and injured thousands. A second ship, High Flyer, exploded after midnight on April 17, worsening the damage. The tragedy prompted wide‑ranging reviews of hazardous‑materials handling and remains one of the deadliest industrial accidents in U.S. history.
Apollo 16 launches, with Mission Control in Houston (1972)
Apollo 16 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 16 carrying John Young, Ken Mattingly, and Charlie Duke. While the launch was in Florida, flight operations were run from Mission Control at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, today NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The mission became the fifth lunar landing and returned 209 pounds of moon rocks, with Houston controllers managing critical troubleshooting throughout. Category: Science and space.
April 17
West Fertilizer explosion devastates a Central Texas town (2013)
A fire and subsequent detonation of stored ammonium nitrate at the West Fertilizer Company killed 15 people, including 12 emergency responders, injured more than 160, and damaged hundreds of structures in the city of West. Federal and state investigations documented the event and recommended stronger chemical‑safety practices.
Keel laid for USS Texas BB‑35 (1911)
The second U.S. battleship named Texas, later a World War I and World War II veteran and now a Texas museum ship, began construction when her keel was laid at Newport News Shipbuilding on April 17. She would be launched in 1912, commissioned in 1914, and eventually preserved by Texas after decommissioning.
April 18
Juan N. Seguín resigns as mayor of San Antonio (1842)
Tejano revolutionary and statesman Juan Seguín stepped down amid political conflict and threats, later fleeing to Mexico. Seguín had served in the Texas Revolution and in the Republic’s Senate before becoming mayor. His resignation reflected tensions in post‑revolution San Antonio as Anglo settlers and longtime Tejano leaders clashed over land and loyalties.
Mexican forces seize a Brazos River crossing during the San Jacinto campaign (1836)
In mid‑April, as both armies maneuvered east, Mexican troops captured Thompson’s Ferry on the Brazos. The action influenced routes and timing as Sam Houston’s army pressed toward the decisive battle at San Jacinto three days later.
April 19
Waco siege ends in fire at Mount Carmel (1993)
After a 51‑day standoff near Waco, federal agents began a tear‑gas operation to end the siege of the Branch Davidian compound. A fire broke out and spread rapidly, and 70‑plus people died, including leader David Koresh. The event remains the subject of extensive official reviews and ongoing debate.
Republic’s “floating capital” continues its work aboard the steamer Cayuga (1836)
As the Texas government fled advancing Mexican forces, President David G. Burnet and his cabinet conducted official business aboard the steamer Cayuga. Burnet rejoined the cabinet on April 19 after narrowly avoiding capture, and the government operated afloat for several days while the army closed on San Jacinto.
April 20
German nobles organize the Adelsverein to colonize Texas (1842)
Twenty‑one aristocrats met at Biebrich on the Rhine and provisionally organized the Verein zum Schutze Deutscher Einwanderer in Texas. Their efforts brought thousands of immigrants and founded communities such as New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, shaping the state’s Hill Country culture and economy.
San Antonio artillery company enters Confederate service (1861)
The First Texas Field Battery (Edgar’s Company A, Texas Light Artillery), nicknamed the Alamo City Guards, was called into Confederate service on April 20 as Texas aligned with the Confederacy. The unit’s assignment reflected the fast‑moving reorganization of military forces in early Civil War Texas.
April 21
Battle of San Jacinto secures Texas independence (1836)
In a swift afternoon assault near present‑day La Porte, Sam Houston’s army defeated Antonio López de Santa Anna, ending the Texas Revolution in a decisive victory that led to the Treaties of Velasco. The day is commemorated annually as San Jacinto Day.
San Jacinto Monument dedicated (1939)
The 567‑foot San Jacinto Monument and its museum were dedicated on the battle’s 103rd anniversary. The site preserves artifacts and interpretation about the revolution and Texas nationhood.
April 22
Santa Anna captured the morning after San Jacinto (1836)
Fleeing the battlefield in disguise, Santa Anna was captured on April 22 and brought before Houston. His capture hastened negotiations and the end of hostilities, though Mexico would not formally recognize the Republic.
April 23
Roy Orbison born in Vernon (1936)
Singer‑songwriter Roy Orbison, later a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer known for “Only the Lonely” and “Oh, Pretty Woman,” was born in Vernon and grew up partly in Wink. His early Texas roots preceded a career that influenced generations of musicians.
Seeds of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth planted (1892)
A civic charter that year for the Fort Worth Public Library Association led, through a series of institutional evolutions, to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, now one of the oldest museums in Texas devoted to contemporary art.
April 24
Magnolia Petroleum Company incorporated in Texas (1911)
Magnolia Petroleum, an early integrated oil company that later became part of Mobil, was incorporated on April 24. It grew out of Spindletop‑era development and helped expand refining and marketing across the Southwest.
San Antonio hosts the first Battle of Flowers parade, precursor to Fiesta (1891)
Local women organized a parade where participants tossed flowers to honor the Alamo and San Jacinto. The event became the signature kickoff of Fiesta San Antonio, a major civic and philanthropic tradition.
April 25
Thornton Affair ignites open war on the Rio Grande (1846)
North of the Rio Grande near present‑day Brownsville, Mexican cavalry clashed with U.S. dragoons under Capt. Seth Thornton. The skirmish resulted in American casualties and became President Polk’s casus belli, marking a clear step into the U.S.–Mexican War.
April 26
San Antonian PFC Milton A. Lee’s actions earn the Medal of Honor (1968)
Serving as a radio operator with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division near Phu Bai, Vietnam, Milton A. Lee repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to aid wounded comrades and neutralize enemy positions. He was killed in action and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970.
April 27
Barker Texas History Center opens at UT Austin (1950)
Dedicated in the Old Library Building, the center united UT’s Archives and Texas Collection Library and housed the Texas State Historical Association. Now part of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, it remains a premier research hub for Texas materials.
April 28
Muhammad Ali refuses induction at Houston’s Military Entrance Processing Station (1967)
The heavyweight champion declined to step forward when called for military service, citing his religious beliefs. He was arrested, stripped of his boxing license and title, and later won a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court reversal in Clay v. United States in 1971. The Houston setting makes this a notable Texas civil‑rights moment intersecting with sports.
April 29
Three Spanish treasure ships wreck on Padre Island (1554)
A spring storm drove the San Esteban, Espíritu Santo, and Santa María de Yciar onto the shoals near present‑day Port Mansfield. Survivors struggled north along the island, and the loss prompted salvage operations and, centuries later, landmark underwater archaeology and new Texas cultural‑resource protections.
April 30
Texas Navy engages Mexican steamers off Campeche, first of two actions (1843)
Commodore Edwin Ward Moore’s flagship Austin and the brig Wharton fought Mexican forces blockading Campeche on April 30, then again on May 16. The campaign became famous as one of the rare times sailing warships fought steam frigates to a standstill and is commemorated on the cylinder scene of Colt’s “Navy” revolvers.
Looking back at these April milestones shows just how deeply this month is tied to the story of Texas. Victories on the battlefield, breakthroughs in business and technology, cultural celebrations, and even tragedies all left their mark.
Each event adds a layer to the state’s history, reminding us that Texas is shaped not only by its triumphs but also by how its people respond to challenges. As April returns each year, it offers Texans an opportunity to reflect on the struggles, achievements, and resilience that continue to define the Lone Star State.
