Esplanade Statues - State Fair of Texas
by Robert J Sadler
Title
Esplanade Statues - State Fair of Texas
Artist
Robert J Sadler
Medium
Photograph - Photography/digital Art
Description
These statues are available as individual images as well.
The Republic of Texas was born in 1836. One hundred years later the State legislature of Texas picked Dallas as the location for its Centennial celebration. This centennial event was billed as The Great State Fair of Texas. Between two of the many art deco styled buildings designed by architect George Dahl was a 700-foot-long reflecting pool forming an esplanade, a water feature with walkways on either side. Built into the buttresses of the east and west facing buildings were six statues representing the national flags that have flown over the soil known as Texas. Depicted here are the three statues on the east side of the esplanade representing: Texas, the CSA, and Spain sculpted by Lawrence Tenney Stevens. On the west side of the esplanade are statues representing Mexico, France, and the USA sculpted by Raoul Josett.
Spain became the first European nation to claim the soil known today as Texas. Spain planted its flag during to periods of Texas history: 1519 to 1685 and 1690 to 1821. Second, and intervening was the flag of France from 1685 to 1690. The third national flag to claim this land was Mexico from 1821 to 1836. The flag of The Republic of Texas flew from 1836 to 1845 when Texas became a State flying the flag of The United States of America. When the war between the state broke out, Texas seceded from the Union and flew its sixth flag, the banner of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865. Following the end of the Civil War, Texas reunited with all its sister states, once again flying the Stars and Stripes of The United States of America from 1865 to Present. Of note is the fact that Texas, a Republic - as a nation unto itself, retained that honor in the display of its national flag when it became the state flag of Texas, in that it is the only flag in The United States not required to be dipped to the Stars and Stripes when passing in parade nor is it required to fly under the US flag as with other states and may be flown from a separate flag pole of equal height to that of the US flag.
Uploaded
December 27th, 2013
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