Texas longhorn postcard

Texas sprawls across nearly 270,000 square miles of North America, ranking as the second-largest state in both area and population in the United States. From the windswept plains of the Panhandle to the piney woods along the Louisiana border, and from the hill country’s limestone ridges to the Gulf Coast’s salty marshes, Texas encompasses an astounding variety of landscapes. Its cities pulse with distinct personalities: Houston, a global energy and healthcare hub; Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World” and home of the South by Southwest festival; Dallas–Fort Worth’s gleaming skyline; and San Antonio’s storied River Walk and historic Alamo. Texan culture is equally diverse—rooted in Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and frontier traditions—reflected today in world-famous barbecue, Tex-Mex cuisine, and a music scene that spans country twang to hip-hop beats. Whether you’re following cattle trails across the ranchlands, tracing the mouth of the Rio Grande, or soaking up art and innovation in its urban centers, Texas invites exploration on a grand scale. No symbol captures Texas’s frontier spirit better than the Texas Longhorn. Descended from the cattle brought by Spanish explorers in the early 1500s, Longhorns evolved over centuries to thrive in harsh conditions, developing extraordinary hardiness and an iconic set of sweeping, curved horns. By the mid-19th century, these cattle ranged freely in vast herds across the open plains, driving the great cattle drives that shaped both the state’s economy and its mythology. Today, preserved by ranchers and breeders, Texas Longhorns remain celebrated not only for their striking appearance—horns that can span over seven feet tip to tip and coats in a kaleidoscope of speckled patterns—but also for their gentle temperament and versatility. They stand as living emblems of Texas’s rugged heritage: equal parts resilience, beauty, and boundless spirit.