Texas, also known as the Lone Star State, is a state with a culture that is uniquely Texan. In this lesson, you will be able to describe the cultural landscape of Texas and examine the various cultures that impact the state and its people.

Interactive exercise. Assistance may be required. Click on the map below and learn more about this vast and wonderful state.

The symbols above show some of the official symbols of Texas, but they are not the only symbols that represent the state of Texas. Look at some of the other symbols below.

Image of a bowl of red salsa and a bowl of verde (green) sauce

Salsa is a condiment that is associated with the Tex-Mex culture, the culture resulting from the blend of Texan and Mexican cultures in Texas.

Image of a pair of cowboy boots.

Cowboy boots are as synonymous with Texas as horses, cattle, and cowboys. The boots pictured to the right were made for President Harry Truman by Texan boot maker, Tony Lama.

Image of a Texas longhorn cow.

The Texas longhorn is also associated with Texas. Not only do people associate the animal with the cattle and ranching culture of Texas, but also its strong survival instinct is characteristic of Texans themselves.

Image of a person’s hand displaying the Hook 'Em Horns' sign. A football game and the crowded stadium are in the background.

The Texas Longhorn is also the mascot for one of the most popular universities in Texas, The University of Texas at Austin. To the right is a picture of a hand displaying the "Hook 'Em Horns" sign at a University of Texas football game.

Cowboy boots, bluebonnets, and salsa are symbolic of the Texas culture. In the following sections, you will explore objects, concepts, ideas, and expressions of culture which originate in, are made in, or have strong bonds to Texas. Through your exploration, you will discover the impact Texas has had on the world and how Texas culture has influenced others.

Sources for images used in this section, as they appear, top to bottom: