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Deep in the Heart of Texas?
Question by Ethan Gelber

The Question:

Texas is definitely in the news these days. But hasn't Texas always been in the news? There has always been something distinct about the state, both because Texans seem to have wanted it that way and because others just perceive it that way. Maligned by many, loved by many more, Texas, the largest continental piece of the Union, is unique.

Texas is also unique because it has seen more than a handful of national flags flying over it. In fact, since 1682, there have been six. We'll give you the last and easiest one: the flag of the United States of America. Can you name the other five? (If you are from Texas, let us know, since we know that this is part of your basic education.)

The Answer:

Thus far, there have been six national flags to fly over Texas, those of:
Spain (1682-1821)
France (1685-1686)
Mexico (1821-1836)
the Republic of Texas (1836-1845)
the Confederate States of America (1861-1870)
the United States of America (1845-1861 and 1870 to the present).

The Winners:

This turns out to have been an easier question than I thought it was. I guess there are more Texas fans out there than we thought. Either that or the 26 correct answerers are not fessing up. (Only one person let on that he is a true Texan and one women confessed to having driven through the state twice.)

Our winners this week are: Trina Burke, Erik Eveland, Jeff Lonard, Gaetano Auricchio, and Molly Brunner. The following people also provided correct answers: Stacy Jo McDermott, William O'Connell, Tim Vander Haar, Brian Konnerth, Tony Cox, Mary McLain, Ed Berkowitz, Steve Yates, Richard Hill, Moire Queen, Will Ricketts, Gayle Watkins, Robert Anderson, Glenn Maziar, Jim Kane, Andrew Keegan, Matthew Boz-Weber, Cary Guenther, Juli Chauran, Fifeplayer, Matthew Tallon, R Canning, and Ilona Lauzums.

A very special thanks for the Freedonia mention! Groucho would be so proud.

THANKS for your contributions!