1999 Texas Capitol Ornament

1999 Capitol Ornament: Lone Star State

This is the 1999 Texas Capitol Ornament "The Lone Star State," the fourth edition in a series spanning more than 30 years of Texas history. It features a brilliant golden Lone Star trimmed in Texas Blue and Red all ringed in a golden halo, emblazoned with the year and name of the this magnificent ornament. This is the last Texas Capitol Ornament of the the twentieth century

The 1999 Capitol ornament showcases two widely recognized symbols of Texas—the "Lone Star" and the state's silhouette. Although the exact origin of the single star is unclear, it seems obvious that the term "Lone Star" in reference to Texas springs from early flags. Three examples are the Sarah Dodson flag, the Johanna Troutman flag, and the Long flag.

Sarah Rudolph Bradley married Archelous Dodson on May 17, 1835 and only a few months later he marched away with the Harrisburg Company of Volunteers to aid in freeing Texas. Dodson carried his wife's creation of the first tricolor Lone Star Flag ever to fly in the Texas air. The flag's white star allegedly symbolized that Texas was the only Mexican state in which the star of liberty was rising. The Sarah Dodson flag was first displayed at Gonzales and later unfurled during the siege of San Antonio on December 6, 1835. Brown's History of Texas states that the Dodson flag was also flown where the convention declared Texas independent.

Another banner with a single star was created in November 1835 when Johanna Troutman made a flag for the Georgia Battalion. They carried it to Texas and unfurled it at Velasco on January 8, 1836. The flag was later carried to Goliad and raised March 8, 1836 to celebrate the news of the Texas Declaration of Independence. (The flag was destroyed by the wind during the Goliad Campaign of 1836.)

A third flag was carried by General James Long's expedition. It is said to have possibly been the first Texas "Lone Star" flag. General Long designed the banner and it was made by his wife Jane, the fabled Mother of Texas. Whatever its beginnings the "Lone Star" remains prominent in Texas.

Nicknamed "Lone Star State", Texas joined the Union on December 29, 1845 as the 28th state. Its shape is widely recognized with the boundaries that were established by the United States Congress with the Compromise of 1850.

Although the silhouette remains the same, the exact location of boundaries has been the subject of international and interstate conflicts. They have resulted in treaties, litigation, and commissions from 1736 to the present. Texans continue to proudly display the widely recognized state and the "Lone Star".

Supplies of this ornament are extremely limited. Once they are sold out, they will be unavailable forever more. We are are releasing the final stock of these original ornaments from our archive in response to consumer requests. Sales from this exclusive ornament support the ongoing preservation and interpretation of the Texas Capitol as well as exhibitions and educational programming at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Collect this commemorative piece of Texas history and help the statehouse maintain its beauty for generations to come.