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WEATHER ALERT

TEJANO MOMENTS

Loyalty or freedom: The difficult choices Tejanos had to make

In the first two installments of KSAT’s latest Tejano Moments series, we introduced you to Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Ruiz, the <a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/08/13/col-francisco-antonio-ruiz-devoted-much-of-his-life-to-the-growth-of-san-antonio-area-historian-says/" target="_blank">contributions</a> he made to the City of San Antonio, and how he put his <a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/08/14/tejano-moments-how-col-francisco-ruiz-put-everything-on-the-line-for-texas-independence/" target="_blank">life on the line</a> for Texas’ Independence.

Longhorns and mustangs aren’t originally from Texas. Here’s how we got them

SAN ANTONIO – Mustangs and longhorns are very common in Texas, but they’ve been around a lot longer than the state itself. When explorers like Christopher Columbus started their expeditions to the “New World” they brought along this livestock with them. It wouldn’t be for almost another hundred years before these animals would be brought into the Texas area through a process called “seed stock”. AdWith the success of the seed stock, the first Tejano ranches are created around 1741. At one point according to old mission records the ranch had over a thousand head of cattle and over 30 horses.

Tejanos were key to developing the ranching industry, bringing longhorns into the state

SAN ANTONIO – As New Spain was developing the area we now know as Texas, explorers started developing the land around the missions into ranchos, which is Spanish for ranches. “When those first expeditions come along, those men came with supplies, horses and cattle,” TexasTejano.com historian Rudi Rodriguez said. One of those ranches is “Rancho de Las Cabras” in Wilson County which was the ranching outpost for Mission Espada. Another key development Tejanos brought to ranching is bringing in and breeding longhorns from Spain. All this is important as it shows the first key roles Tejanos played in developing the ranching industry and Texas.

‘Our history begins with them’: Native Texan tribes a big part of Tejano history

SAN ANTONIO – Before the Spanish, French or Mexicans explored the area we now know as Texas, others were already here -- Native Americans. Tejanos would become the direct descendants of the first Spanish, Mexican and Native Texan tribes. As those cultures blended the Native Americans in Texas become a part of the legacy and heritage of Tejano history. “The Native Americans, once again, I believe, has given us a window into the past and their history,” Rodriguez said. “Our history begins with them.”Read more about Tejano History:

San Juan Bautista is considered the mother of all Texas missions and gateway to our state

SAN ANTONIO – Once considered the “gateway” to Texas, San Juan Bautista is known as the mother of all Texas missions. It was founded on Jan. 1, 1700, and was located in present-day Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico, about 35 miles from Eagle Pass, Texas. The mission was important to San Antonio history as Governor Martin de Alarcón launched his founding expedition of the Alamo City in 1718 from San Juan Bautista and in 1731 soldiers from the mission escorted Canary Islanders to San Antonio. Its name is now just a part of Tejano history, but for more than a hundred years it was a gateway to a new land. Read more about Tejano History:

The history behind the first settlers of Texas and the villas they created

SAN ANTONIO – When discussing Tejano history you would have to mention the first settlers to the area in the late 1600s and early 1700s. Those first settlers were soldiers hand-picked because they had families and knew how to ranch. “They bring with them morals and their standards.”When those first soldiers came to the area they created villas or towns. “The villas are important to every community because it’s the actual genesis, for the growth of communities that come later,” Rodriguez said. To learn more about Tejano history you can visit TexasTejano.com.

Learn about the governors of Texas that aren’t often talked about in history classes

SAN ANTONIO – Between 1688 and 1836 Texas had many Spanish and Mexican governors who were the first Tejano leaders of the state. Around this time the Spanish Governor’s Palace which is still standing in downtown San Antonio was being built. San Antonio would eventually become the capital of Texas and Governor Juan Maria Vicencio was the first to live there. From this point until 1836 many Spanish or Mexican governors would be of some significance to the development of the state and Tejano history. The last new Spain governor was Antonio Maria Martinez in 1821 and the last Mexican Governor was Ramo Musquiz in 1835.

Four districts contribute to early development, establishment of Texas

SAN ANTONIO – Before Texas even became what it is now, in its early development there weren’t any counties or borders but instead four very important districts. Spain’s development of the Texas region into New Spain is part of the founding of Texas and the American Southwest. “The four districts contribute to the development of the entire geography of Texas,” Rodriguez said. These districts, through the years, would begin to flourish and grow, becoming pioneers in ranching and strongholds for the military. Not only did these districts contribute to the development of the state but they show the deep roots Tejanos have within Texas.

Historic trail system in Texas played major role in San Antonio’s development

SAN ANTONIO – Before cars and highways, people followed El Camino Real de los Tejas to travel between Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. That trail played a key part in making San Antonio the city it is today. The trail system starts around Laredo and near Eagle Pass, goes up through San Antonio and into eastern Texas into Louisiana. The importance of this trail system is why El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association was created to help preserve and mark it. Related:‘Hispanics have an incredible history that hasn’t been told’: San Antonio businessman creates website about Tejano history