AUSTIN

Our Capitol Building

Located near the center of Austin, on the square originally selected as the site of the Capitol of the Republic of Texas, the State Capitol is more than just another building to Texans throughout the state: it represents a great part of our heritage. The Capitol is the result of the hard work of many individuals who had the wisdom and determination to see Texas stand proudly as a state in the Union. Tours of the capitol are offered every 15 minutes~



The Governors Mansion

Welcome to our Governor's Mansion! Texas' premier historic home has served as the official residence of Texas governors and their families since 1856. It is the fourth oldest governor's mansion continuously occupied in the United States.



The Mansion Gardens



The mansion's grounds are used extensively for entertaining by the First Family of Texas. First Lady Nellie Connally (1963-69) established a formal landscape plan in the 1960s.Looks like a great place for a Drifter picnic to me~



Sitting on the banks of the Colorado River and nestled on the edge of the Texas hill country, Austin provides many things to see and do~

About an hours drive north of Austin lies Fort Hood.Let's take a look.





Fort Hood, Texas

The largest military installation in the free world.

Fort Hood, Texas, is a 339 square mile installation surrounded by rolling hills, lakes, and an abundance of wildlife. The Fort Hood area consists of a cluster of small towns that take great pride in the community spirit. The first train steamed into town in May 1882, giving birth to the city of Killeen.



Fort Hood is the home of the
"First Cavalry"



A big Thank You to all of the men and women of the military for keeping us all free and out of harms way.



Oh...just in case you see one of these critters, it's a nine banded armadillo which is prevalent in Texas. They are especially numerous in the central part. The armadillo is also our state mammal.



Big D at night

Downtown Dallas shimmers at night and can boast of a truly magnificent skyline.  The landmark Reunion Tower in the right foreground of the photograph is part of the Reunion development which also includes the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Reunion Arena and Union Station, all connected by pedestrian walkways and tunnels.  It's also near the Dallas Convention Center.  Known as the  financial capital of the Southwest, many of the towers featured in the various Dallas skyline photos house leading financial institutions. The Downtown area provides a unique variety of accommodations and restaurants and an endless supply of things to do and places to see - from the West End Historic District with the West End  MarketPlace to the Arts District to the new symphony center to the Deep Ellum entertainment district to sports and entertainment events in Reunion Arena -



The State Fair Of Texas

During the annual 24-day event, more than 3.5 million people crowd happily through the gates to enjoy what is one of the largest annual entertainment events anywhere in the world. The blockbuster attendance of 3,558,749 in 1996 ranks the second best after 1995 in the 110-year history of The State Fair of Texas. The 2000 State Fair is scheduled September 29 to October 22, 2000.
The State Fair takes place at Fair Park, a 277- acre National Historic Landmark located directly southeast of downtown Dallas. Owned and operated by the City of Dallas, Fair Park contains the largest collection of cultural facilities in Dallas with the largest collection of 1930's art deco architecture in the United States. Fair Park is open year-round and hosts a variety of events including the Cotton Bowl Classic Football Game, The Al Lipscomb Classic Football Game, held during the State Fair, and The Dallas Summer Musicals.

Before we go to San Antonio let me give you a glimpse of my hometown. Not the biggest community in Texas..but my family's home since 1974.



The community of Seguin was established in 1838 by members of Mathew Caldwell's Gonzales Rangers, but was not incorporated until 1853. It was originally called Walnut Springs for the nearby fresh water sources. Just six months later the name was changed to honor Colonel Juan N. Seguin, one of Sam Houston's ablest Lieutenants throughout the struggle for Texas' independence.



Juan Seguin

Leon's Studio, Seguin, Tx.

This is an old photo of a Texas Ranger station located here in Seguin.



WOW!..I wonder just how big the tree is! Pecans are a big part of our economy here. The area is one of the top producers of pecans in the US.



Less than a mile from my house is the beautiful Guadalupe river.
The Guadalupe River was discovered in 1689 by Alonzo deLeon, who named it in honor of the patron saint of the expedition. DeLeon, and other later travelers, considered it to be the most beautiful river in Texas. Today, its' scenic beauty and clear waters still attract admiration from visitors thoughout Texas.

Just a few miles west of Seguin is San Antonio~ The city is very multi-cultured and always has interesting things for everyone~