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79R3401 BJM-D
By: Hilderbran H.C.R. No. 32
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, For three weeks in January 2005, the Huff Diary and
Wagon Train Project is engaging hundreds of students from across
Texas and California in a hands-on history project of epic scope,
exemplifying not only creative initiative on the part of educators
and outstanding support by state employees, but also inventive and
effective use of Texas state parks and historic landmarks; and
WHEREAS, The educational adventure of a lifetime, the
singular project is affording participants the opportunity to
travel 650 miles in horse-drawn wagons across Texas from El Paso to
near Austin as they retrace, in reverse, the legendary route of
1850s gold rush pioneer William P. Huff; along the trail, they are
studying firsthand those historic Texas landmarks described in
Huff's diary; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of additional students may vicariously
experience the exciting journey by accessing a state-of-the-art
website that follows the progress of the wagon train through daily
photographic and text updates and serves as a forum for dialogues by
e-mail with Wagon Train participants; and
WHEREAS, William P. Huff came to San Felipe as one of Stephen
F. Austin's original "Old Three Hundred" settlers in 1824 and set up
a general store with his father; during the Texas Revolution, he
befriended Mr. Austin and other luminaries of Texas history,
including William B. Travis, Jim Bowie, and Sam Houston; in 1859, he
left the Lone Star State for the Northern California gold fields,
compiling along the way a 300,000-word diary that today stands as
the most detailed account available of the lesser-known Southern
Gold Rush Trail; and
WHEREAS, The history of William Huff and the other
"Argonauts" who blazed this trail has remained largely untold,
despite the fact that this stirring and important chapter of the
state's rich history further reveals a drive and determination that
defines the cultural character of Texans even today; and
WHEREAS, The Huff Diary and Wagon Train Project provides an
opportunity to draw much-deserved attention to Mr. Huff's story and
to demonstrate the effectiveness of hands-on learning experiences
in teaching the history and heritage of our state; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby recognize the Huff Diary and Wagon Train Project for its
innovative and unprecedented approach to history education,
welcome the participants to Austin, and applaud the students,
parents, teachers, state agencies, county historical societies,
and all those involved in this remarkable undertaking.