Come and Take It

At the twilight of the Spanish empire, the province of Texas continued to experience periodic incursions by groups of freebooters known the filibusters. There were the privateers, including Louis Michel Aury and Jean Lafitte, who turned Galveston Island into a haven for revolution and piracy. There revolutionaries such as Mina and Perry, whose Texas incursions would spell their doom. The last of these was led by Dr. James Long, who would see little success in his endeavors, but the impact his and all the filibusters would be felt for years afterwards.

In the 1810s and 1820s, a motley mix of adventurers, revolutionaries, and freebooters known the filibusters staged a series of incursions and invasions into the Spanish territory of Texas. They came to liberate Mexico, to carve out an independent Texas, or just for personal profit and glory, but whatever their cause, they made a lasting mark on the history of Texas. In 1813, Augustus Magee and Bernardo Guiterrez led the most successful filibustering expedition into Texas, establishing the Republic of the North for a brief time before being crushed by Spanish colonial forces.

Before the Texas Revolution, before the Fredonia Revolt, indeed even before Mexico gained independence from Spain, an independent Texas was the goal of several groups of headstrong, brave, and perhaps foolhardy invasions by adventurers from America and other countries. These freebooters were known as the filibusters, and many consider Philip Nolan to be the first of many to make their indelible mark on Texas history.

William Barret Travis is one of the great icons of Texas history, but few realize that he experienced such failure and disappointment in his short life. Texas truly was a transformative place for this young man, and the fame and glory he sought in life came with his glorious death. This week we look at the life of Alamo hero William Barret Travis, on Come and Take It!

There are lots of classic movies about Texas and then there are movies about Texas to which time has not been so kind. Made in 1969, Viva Max! is one of these lesser films. It features an amazing cast of award winners and is based on the writings of one of the brightest minds of his generation. Today we are discussiong, Viva Max! a film about a Mexican general who re-takes the Alamo in a bid to prove his honor.

Covering over 800,000 acres of far west Texas, Big Bend National Park is the first and largest national park in Texas. Larger than the state of Rhode Island, Big Bend is a diverse and fascinating combination of striking geological formations, rich diversity in plants and wildlife, amazing discoveries from the fossil record, and the darkest skies in all of Texas. This week Come and Take It visits the truly amazing Big Bend National Park!

Jim Bowie was a man who lived many lives. He was a swindler, a fighter, a husband, an adventurer, a patriot, and a rebel. His years in Texas had brought him prosperity as well as heartbreak. In 1836, though, would find his ultimate fate and fame as one of the doomed defenders of the Alamo. This week we finish our look at the life and death of one of Texas greatest icons, Jim Bowie.

In 1828, Jim Bowie left behind his controversial life in Louisiana to start again in Texas, hoping to find his fortune. He found adventure, prosperity, and heartbreak as well. Most significantly, he found his ultimate fate and fame as one of the doomed defenders of the Alamo. This week we continue our look at the life and death of adventurer, rogue, and Texas icon Jim Bowie.

Soldier. Adventurer. Knife fighter. Land swindler. Smuggler. Rogue. Hero. All of these words were used to describe Jim Bowie, a man as famous and notorious as the deadly knife that bore his name. Words that paint the picture, but do no not tell the full story of the man who would one day meet his fate at the Alamo. This week we take a look at the early life of one of Texas greatest legends, Jim Bowie

The history of Texas is littered with great rivalries. The Spanish vs. the French. Texas Rangers vs. the Comanche. Santa Anna vs. Everyone. But today, as we approach the American Thanksgiving holiday, weʼre going to talk about what is, perhaps, the greatest rivalry in the history of the world: the Univeristy of Texas Longhorns vs. the Aggies of Texas A&M.