Walk Through Texas History
Walk Through Texas History is a FREE, 4-week walking challenge designed to promote physical activity through an educational, fun, and challenging way. Each adult team may include up to 8 team members, all working together to reach designated goals while following along legendary historical paths created by fellow Texans.
How Does it Work?
- Form or join a Walk Through Texas History league at your office, church, school, senior center, or community group. Select the league’s path to define the historical route that all teams in the league will follow.
- Then, form teams inside of your league. Up to 8 team members are encouraged to work together towards the goal of virtually walking along a historical route.
- Each team member logs steps in our online challenge tracker that contribute toward the team’s mileage total.
Year-round participation is encouraged using locally sponsored program activities, as well as with leadership provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension employees.
Historical Walking Routes
The Runaway Scrape (416 miles)
Less than a week after the disastrous defeat of Texas rebels at the Alamo, the newly commissioned Texan General Sam Houston begins a series of strategic retreats to buy time to train his ill-prepared army.
Houston arrived in Gonzales, Texas, where the main force of the revolutionary army was stationed and found that the Texan army consisted of 374 poorly dressed and ill-equipped men. Most had no guns or military experience, and they had only two days of rations.
Unprepared to confront the Mexican army with his poorly trained force, Houston began a series of strategic retreats designed to give him enough time to whip his army into fighting shape and defeat Santa Anna’s Mexican army at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Texas Historical Commission
State Historic Sites (540 miles)
The Texas Historical Commission has partnered with our AgriLife Extension’s Walk Through Texas History program to create a virtual experience that will introduce participants to the 36 State Historic Sites.
The Texas Historical Commission preserves and operates 36 State Historic Sites across Texas. These unique places honor Texas history and inspire an understanding of what it means to be a Texan. From American Indian sites to frontier forts to common and elegant homes and the leaders and statesmen who lived in them, these sites enrich people’s lives through history.
This path selection will feature each Texas Historical Commission site as milestones that can be achieved throughout the Walk Through Texas History program. Every 15 miles logged will introduce your team to a new site. Select this route and see if your team can walk 540 miles through Texas history!
Ready to get started?
Sign up now by creating a Howdy Health account.
Need Help?
If you live and work in Texas, please contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension county agent. For everyone else, please review the implementation guide, view our video tutorials, and help desk.
2022 Walk Through Texas History Program Results
per participant
Selected Participant Comments
“It was beneficial for me because I was more conscious about how much physical activity I was getting and it encouraged me to be more physically active and get more steps in!”
“My family and I that participated in the event were more mindful about how much we walked and exercised. It also gave us something to talk about and a little friendly competition. Overall, we really enjoyed the program and would do it again next year.”
“Engaged our family to work toward a common goal and learn about the great history of Texas!”
“I enjoyed the presentation of the program with the mile markers to be achieved and the historical information. I liked working with a team to further the overall progress and it helped me to keep up with my goals.”
