The Army installation Fort Novosel — named after a MoH recipient who heroically commanded a Vietnam medical evacuation — was, until 2023, named for which Confederate colonel?
William Anderson
Edmund Rucker
John Mosby
Edmund Smith
Joseph Johnston
Correct Answer: Edmund Rucker
On May 9, 2023, Fort Hood — named for Confederate general John Bell Hood — was renamed what, after the U.S. Army’s first Hispanic four-star general?
Fort Cavazos
Fort Sasseville
Fort Cantu
Fort Serna
Fort Martinez
Correct Answer: Fort Cavazos
On April 27, 2023, Fort Lee in Virginia — named for Confederate general Robert E. Lee — was renamed what, in honor of two pioneering African-American Army figures?
Fort Carney-Powell
Fort Flipper-Davis
Fort Gregg-Adams
Fort Attucks-Johnson
Fort Miller-Brown
Correct Answer: Fort Gregg-Adams
Trivia: A staple at the Texas State Fair in Dallas, what is “Big Tex”?
A giant slide
A prize-winning bull
The world’s tallest cowboy
A BBQ eating competition
Correct Answer: The world’s tallest cowboy
So why is this answer correct? : A 55-foot-tall cowboy, Big Tex is beloved by Texans. He’s been around for almost 70 years, welcoming millions of happy fair-goers to the Texas State Fair each season. Located in Fair Park, Dallas, this annual event has been held since 1886 and includes livestock, amusement rides, and — of course — delicious fair food.
Trivia: What is the official state snack of Texas?
Jalapeño poppers
Baby back ribs
Chicken wings
Chips and salsa
Correct Answer: Chips and salsa
So why is this answer correct? : Though you can’t go wrong with any of these snack choices, the Texas State Legislature made tortilla chips and salsa the state’s official snack in 2003, noting “Texans’ insatiable demand for this zesty concoction.” The iconic pairing is not only widely popular, but it also bears cultural and historic significance for Texans in particular, with lawmakers writing that chips and salsa “constitute a much-savored part of our shared cultural identity.”
Trivia: Kingsville, Texas, is home to the United States’ largest what?
Dam
Cattle ranch
Canyon
Gold mine
Correct Answer: Cattle ranch
So why is this answer correct? : Spanning across 825,000 acres in South Texas, King Ranch is a massive cattle ranch larger than the state of Rhode Island. Richard King, the ranch’s founder, began purchasing the land for Rancho de Santa Gertrudis (King Ranch) back in 1853. The ranch was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and continues to produce cattle, racehorses, and even citrus.
Trivia: Texas is home to which of these mysterious phenomena?
Marfa Lights
Sailing Stones
Fairy Circles
Nazca Lines
Correct Answer: Marfa Lights
So why is this answer correct? : The mysterious Marfa Lights are strange, ethereal glowing orbs that appear in the desert outside the West Texas town of Marfa. For more than 100 years, observers have recorded sightings of the basketball-sized globes of light, reporting that they can hover, merge, twinkle, split, flicker, and float all around the Marshall Flat just east of town. No one is sure what causes the phenomenon.
Trivia: What is the highest peak in Texas?
Mount Rainier
Kings Peak
Mount Elbert
Guadalupe Peak
Correct Answer: Guadalupe Peak
So why is this answer correct? : The “Top of Texas” is found in the Guadalupe Mountains at Guadalupe Peak, also called Signal Peak, in the Chihuahuan Desert. It rises 8,751 feet over the vast grasslands below and makes for a strenuous journey for those who hike the 8.4-mile round trip to the top. The area is part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas near the New Mexico border.
Trivia: Which Texas city is located in the Mountain Time Zone?
Sugar Land
Waco
Amarillo
El Paso
Correct Answer: El Paso
So why is this answer correct? : Most of Texas is located in the Central Time Zone, but its two westernmost counties, El Paso and Hudspeth, have been operating in the Mountain Time Zone since 1970. In 1921, the Secretary of Transportation placed all of Texas, including El Paso, in the Central Time Zone. However, the city ignored the legislation and continued to unofficially operate on Mountain Time for nearly 50 years before legally making the change.
Trivia: Built in Texas, what is the name of the world’s first domed sports arena?
Sun Bowl Stadium
Houston Astrodome
Alamodome
Dallas Dimmadome
Correct Answer: Houston Astrodome
So why is this answer correct? : When it opened in 1965, the Houston Astrodome became the world’s first domed and air-conditioned indoor stadium. One of the most important architectural landmarks in Texas, the dome was nicknamed the “Eighth Wonder of the World” for its impressive size and groundbreaking steel latticework. The arena was the home field for the Houston Astros until 1999, but it hasn’t been used since 2009.