When Conrad Hilton went to the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas looking for a room he was impressed by the volume of business that the oil boom had brought to that Hotel so he bought the Hotel. It was 1919 and the first well to hit oil in Eastland County was in 1917. The boom was over by the late 1920’s and Hilton sold the Hotel in 1929. Thirty years later it wasn’t a hotel any more. This cycle would repeat itself at different times and in different places in Texas for decades. With each oil boom people built hotels and when the boom went bust sometimes the hotel buildings remained, but not many remained in business
Laguna Hotel, Cisco, TX 1929, THSA
One of a chain of missions reaching into the American Southwest, the Mission of San Xavier del Bac was founded near the Santa Cruz River in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit explorer.
The intricately painted and carved religious imagery, which covers the walls and vaulted ceilings was probably done by Mexican and Tohono O’odham craftsmen.
Beginning with the annexation of Texas the American Military began the construction of many forts in Texas to safeguard the border and transportation routes, manage the local citizenry, and primarily to campaign against the native American Indian Tribes. As part of the this Fort Richardson was established as the farthest north of the line of frontier forts and outposts established after the Civil War. Better described as a military post than a fort because there were no fortifications, Fort Richardson was to become the largest and most important of the late 19th century Texas forts.
The celebrations of Christmas and other North American mid-winter holidays are collections of stories and traditions from many cultures and eras brought together by times and circumstances and augmented by a healthy dose of commercialism. What started as lighting a Christmas tree has become outdoor displays of lights that are such a big part of the holiday season. From movies like Christmas Vacation to television ads there is recognition of this phenomena. Located in the Old East Dallas neighborhood of Hollywood/Santa Monica is the yard art holiday lighting display of Liz Sommers, ELECTRIC LIZZYLAND. What Liz has been doing for years is a good example of holiday lighting display as folk art expression.