Traces of Texas Resources
This page is dedicated to Texas-related resources. I will be adding to it on a constant basis, so please check back from time to time. Rest assured that I receive no compensation for any of these endorsements. These are simply links to sites and things that I have found to be valuable.
Glenn Justice, the managing editor of RimRock Press, has a fascinating website dedicated to Texas history. I actually got lost in it for several days a couple of years ago over the Christmas holidays and only found my way out by way of some chili stains that I'd left along the way. Mr. Justice's approach is sometimes iconoclastic but that's generally how it is with Texans. I've never met him but, when I picture Glenn, he looks like a Sam Elliott character in a 1970's western.
People ask me about the secret to my barbecue. I hem and haw and talk about exotic ingredients and an ancient recipe given to my great grandfather by a mysterious stranger on a train bound from someplace to nowhere. But the truth is more mundane: I use the brines from Sweetwater Spice company. The bbq bath and brisket bath are my favorites but the turkey bath and the fajita bath are also great. I told myself that I'd try to stay away from commercial endorsements when I started Traces of Texas but this stuff is awesome. If it isn't available in your neck of the woods, you can order it online.
An award-winning University of Texas website devoted to exploring Texas before it was settled by Europeans. The site focuses on archaeological discoveries from around the state. Despite my liberal arts background and my lifelong interest in Texas, there is a lot here that I had never heard about. Wonderful graphics and nice mouseovers when you hover your mouse cursor over each place on the map.
The Texas Wild Network Website is exactly what you'd think it would be: a site dedicated to documenting and saving Texas' wildlife and wild places. Lots of interactive features, videos etc... Well worth visiting.
Texas Escapes is probably the premier Texas-related site on the web. From history to travel to architecture to old images, this Texas Escapes has it all. As just one example, it documents 573 ghost towns. That's right: 573! You can spend weeks here if you so choose.
The great folks at Texas Dance Hall Preservation have put together a
fantastic non-profit site dedicated to the preservation of these
wonderful structures. There is a treasure trove of information
regarding the history and culture of Texas dance halls. As of right now,
they even have the famous Sisterdale Dance Hall, built in 1890, for sale
on their site.
