Bonus Episode:  Texas Thanksgiving

Bonus Episode: Texas Thanksgiving

Author: Ken Wise November 23, 2015 Duration: 12:01

The story of the first thanksgiving is not the one you might think.  Before the pilgrims, Texas already had a thanksgiving–and now we have two!  Learn more in this bonus episode of Wise About Texas.  Happy thanksgiving!

 

p h bell

Governor Peter H. Bell proclaimed in 1850 that Thanksgiving in Texas be celebrated on the first Thursday in March. That proclamation stands.

1959 marker site

A crossing on the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River in Palo Duro Canyon. Did Coronado celebrate thanksgiving here in 1541?


There’s a particular feeling you get standing on a wide stretch of prairie or walking through a quiet courthouse square that seems to hold a century of stories. Wise About Texas is about uncovering those stories, layer by layer, with the kind of depth and context that makes the past feel immediate. Hosted by Ken Wise, each episode goes beyond the well-trodden tales of the Alamo and cowboy legends to explore the people, places, and pivotal moments that truly shaped this unique state. You’ll hear about forgotten communities, surprising cultural intersections, and the everyday lives that built Texas from the ground up. This isn’t just a dry recitation of dates; it’s a thoughtful exploration that connects history to the landscape you can visit today. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or someone planning a trip with a desire to understand what you’re seeing, this podcast serves as an engaging guide. Tune in for narratives that are meticulously researched yet told with a conversational ease, making each chapter of Texas history accessible and genuinely compelling. The aim is to leave you not just better informed, but with a richer sense of the spirit and complexity that defines the Lone Star State.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 163

Wise About Texas
Podcast Episodes
EP. 81: Exploring the Texas Revolution in San Felipe de Austin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:19
Stephen F. Austin chose to set up the capitol of his colony on the banks of the Brazos River where the El Camino Real crossed the river. He envisioned a major metropolitan area as the center of immigrant activity in his…
Ep. 80:  The Twin Sisters, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:35
184 years ago, the Texas Army was long on spirit, but short on guns. Artillery, that is. How would they take on Santa Anna without some “hollow ware?” Enter the good people of Cincinnati, Ohio. They formed a committee, t…
Ep. 79: Dorie Miller–A Texas War Hero [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:17
On December 7, 1941, Mess Attendant Doris “Dorie” Miller was doing laundry, one of the few jobs available to African American sailors in the U.S. Navy at the time. When his ship came under attack, Miller rushed to help h…
Ep. 78:  The Lady in Blue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:30
In 1629 a group of Jumano Indians suddenly appeared at a New Mexico mission, eager to learn more about Christianity. The excited and grateful Franciscan priests wondered what motivated this sudden interest. The tale the…
Ep. 77:  A bull branded MURDER [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:11
In 1891, one cowboy murdered another over the ownership of a brindle bull. Other cowboys branded the bull so that all would remember the crime. Some say the bull wanders the trans-pecos to this day, appearing whenever a…
Ep. 76: The Texas Cattle Queen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:00
Right after the civil war, women weren’t really expected (or even thought capable) to be in business. But of course, Texas women proved them wrong. Lizzie Johnson was a school teacher, but she was also a writer and disco…
Ep. 74:  The Vaudeville Mule [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:52
What could be better than a good vaudeville show? A runaway mule, of course! One day in Nacogdoches, it’s said that a runaway mule changed the course of comedy history. Is it true? You bet your life…
EP. 73: Train Robbery at Baxter’s Curve [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:07
Ben Kilpatrick was an outlaw. He rode with Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and the Wild Bunch into western infamy. The law caught up with him and he went to prison where he met Ole Hobeck. They two decided when they got…