Predators of Asia & Africa

Fort Worth Zoo is a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas and is home to 7,000 native and exotic animals. The Fort Worth Zoo houses two critically endangered Sumatran tigers named Rakan and N'dari. They live in the zoo's modern Predators of Asia & Africa habitat, which opened in June 2023. It includes huge yards for returning carnivores like lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and new addition of African leopards. The half that was formerly Asian Falls still displays Sumatran tigers, striped hyenas, as well as the new addition of clouded leopards.

Tag: Zoo tag
Date: July 1

The Alamo

Established in 1718 by Spanish settlers, San Antonio de Valero was the first of the original five missions to be established in San Antonio, Texas. Because of its part in Texas' independence, the Alamo as it's now known, is regarded as the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

The Alamo and the four missions in the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 5, 2015. The site encompasses a group of five frontier mission complexes situated along a stretch of the San Antonio River basin in southern Texas, as well as a ranch located 37 kilometres to the south. It includes architectural and archaeological structures, farmlands, residencies, churches and granaries, as well as water distribution systems. The complexes were built by Franciscan missionaries in the 18th century and illustrate the Spanish Crown’s efforts to colonize, evangelize and defend the northern frontier of New Spain. The San Antonio Missions are also an example of the interweaving of Spanish and Coahuiltecan cultures, illustrated by a variety of features, including the decorative elements of churches, which combine Catholic symbols with indigenous designs inspired by nature.

Unesco: San Antonio Missions
RR: Unesco RR
Date: Sept 20

Houston Zoo

An African lion from Houston Zoo. Since 2017 ten year old Hasani is the male lion of Houston Zoo. He lives together with the 2 sisters Uzima and Mattie, both 16 years old.

Tag: Zoo tag
Date: July 28

Nine-banded armadillo

Texas adopted the armadillo as its State Small Mammal in 1995. The nine-banded armadillo is the only armadillo species native to North America and it is found as far north and east as Oklahoma and Mississippi. The mammal is cat-sized, armored, and a major digger known for creating burrows in a variety of places including brush, woods, scrubs, and grasslands. The unique female armadillo only gives birth to quadruplets that have developed from the same egg, and therefore all of her four offspring are always of the same sex.

RR: RR Francophone
Date: May 2

Houston Zoo

The McNair Asian Elephant Habitat is home to the Houston Zoo's herd of Asian elephants. It features a 7,000-square-foot barn custom-built to house the bull elephants, a brand-new expanded habitat with a boardwalk with an unobstructed view of the elephants in their new yard, and a 160,000-gallon pool. Currently there live a total of 12 elephants, 5 males and 7 females here. 

Tag: Offer tag
Date: Aug 18

Beaumont

The Crockett Street Dining and Entertainment Complex is located in Downtown Beaumont, Texas. It consists of five restored buildings built at the turn of the 20th century. They were used for various businesses then, but now host restaurants and various entertainment venues. From Left to right, the historic names are: Wilson Building, Littleton Building, Millard Building, Dixie Hotel.

Thanks a lot Amanda!
Date: July 31

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas - Mission Espada.
Mission Espada was the first mission in the province of Texas, founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas. In 1731, the mission was relocated from east Texas to the present location along the San Antonio River and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. Mission Espada is the southern most mission in San Antonio. Distinctive Spanish design features can be seen in the church doorway, bell tower, and brick archways.

Unesco: San Antonio Missions

RR: Unesco RR
Date: Dec 29

From Texas

A Cowboy hat from Texas.
RR: 10 Countries RR
Date: April 20

Texas

Texas, the Lone Star State nickname pays tribute to the Lone Star flag, which was adopted after Texas became independent from Mexico in 1836.

Thanks a lot Laarni.
Tag: Favourites tag
Date: March 17

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas - Mission San José.
San José, the largest and most impressive of the San Antonio Missions, has evolved not only into a historic monument, but also a well-preserved part of modern local life. Part visitor center, part parish, part museum, and part natural space, it's operated by both the National Park Service and the church. The community was established in the 1700s by Spanish missionaries, who converted many Native Americans and taught them how to farm and work the land in exchange for protection. Today the buildings and grounds are open to the public for tours, wandering, and worship.

Unesco: San Antonio Missions

RR: Unesco RR
Date: March 13

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Texas - Mission San Juan.
Franciscan missions, established in the eighteenth century along the San Antonio River, sowed the seeds of Spanish culture among the Indians of the Texas frontier. Venerable remnants of four missions are preserved within San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

Unesco: San Antonio Missions
RR: Unesco RR
Date: Feb 25

Texas State Capitol

The Texas capital has the largest state capitol building in the United States. Red granite from the Marble Falls area was used in the construction.
The granite Texas statehouse stands as a testament to the history of the Lone Star State. The Texas Capitol is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Thanks a lot Beatriz!
Date: July 6

Dallas

Dallas skyline reflection in the Trinity river.
RR: North America meets the World
Date: June 7

Dallas Skyline

The buildings light up the Dallas skyline at night, as seen from the Reunion Tower. 
Dallas is the site of 36 completed high-rises over 107 m. The tallest building in the city is the Bank of America Plaza, which rises 281 m in Downtown Dallas and was completed in 1985.

Thanks a lot Pam!
Tag: Favourites tag
Date: Dec 1

From Texas

Love from Texas featuring the longhorn bull. The Texas longhorn is a hybrid of Spanish and English cattle and is known for its extremely long horns, tough hooves, and general hardiness. It became a symbol of the Texas cattle drives in the 1860s and 1870s. The longhorn became the large mammal symbol of Texas in 1995.

Distance: 7,916 km
Travel time: 7 days

From Texas

Texas, Riding into the sunset.
The Texan cowboy is symbolic to the state’s image. It’s a distinctive social subculture, a unique style of dress and a lifetime’s worth of acquired riding skills, on both horse and cattle. Over the years, the number of working cowboys has declined, but the occupation isn’t obsolete. The cowboy lifestyle and culture is still found in certain areas of the United States, albeit to a lesser degree than a century ago. Cowboys continue to help run large ranches in states like Texas, Utah, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

Thanks a lot Denise!
Tag: Favourites tag
Date: Sept 18

From Killeen, Texas

Street Scene, Killeen, Texas. Located in Central Texas, Killeen is a neighbor to Fort Hood and also near the cities of Temple, Gatesvill, Belton and Copperas Cove.

Distance: 7,804 km
Travel time: 16 days

Texas

From Texas, a large state in the southern U.S. with deserts, pine forest and the Rio Grande, a river that forms its border with Mexico. In its biggest city, Houston, the Museum of Fine Arts houses works by well-known Impressionist and Renaissance painters, while Space Center Houston offers interactive displays engineered by NASA. Austin, the capital, is known for its eclectic music scene and LBJ Presidential Library.

Thanks a lot Arnold.

Date: May 4

The Alamo

San Antonio, Texas.
The Mission San Antonio de Valero is now commonly known as the Alamo. It was here that Col. Travis and 187 defenders lost their lives in the historic fight for the Texas independence.
The Alamo is a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound founded in the 18th century by Roman Catholic missionaries in what is now San Antonio, Texas, United States. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Today it is a museum in the Alamo Plaza Historic District and a part of the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site.

Thanks a lot for another amazing card Ria!
Unesco: San Antonio Missions
Swap: Feb 20

Austin

Austin is the state capital of Texas, an inland city bordering the Hill Country region. Home to the University of Texas flagship campus, Austin is known for its eclectic live-music scene centered around country, blues and rock. Its many parks and lakes are popular for hiking, biking, swimming and boating.

Thanks a lot for the swap Ria!
Date: Feb 20