The flags of Six different nations have flown over Texas. To be a Texan one must know this. The question may be asked when a new Texan gets a driver's license; if the license people are in the mood to torment you, you may be asked to name the Six Flags along with Pledging Allegiance to Texas. At Six Flags, the Theme Park, the park is loosely divided into areas themed after the Six Flags. However, there are some strange anomalies. Such as in Mexico there is a huge toboggan ride.

The Ranger & Outlaws Show takes the Lone Ranger myth to stage a Totally Texas Show of blazing shotguns, gunfights, fistfights, robberies, explosions, ropings, and just general mayhem. Along with a marksmen exhibition and a champion elderly rope-twirling cowboy. But the main show is the Lone Ranger saving a woman from some bad guys stealing silver from a mine, down somewhere in the Big Bend/Peco area of Texas. And the funniest line in the show is when the Woman on the Longhorn, in response to the Lone Ranger remarking "Lady, I'm just trying to help," says, "I am no Lady. I'm a Texan!"

 Ranger & Outlaws 

The Six Flags Rangers & Outlaw Show is a sort of tribute to the Texas Rangers, the oldest law enforcement agency in North America. Recognized throughout the world. When one hears the name Texas Ranger, one does not always know for sure if the subject is baseball, a TV show, or law enforcement. Many radio programs, movies, books, and TV shows have all attempted to tell the Ranger story and portray the Ranger’s since of pride. There are even Texas Ranger re-enactment groups in Europe.

The history of the Texas Rangers is for the most part the history of Texas itself. In 1820, Stephen F. Austin, best known as the father of Texas, requested and received permission from the Mexican government for 300 families to enter the territory of Texas. By 1823, the need became apparent to create a force in order to provide the pioneers with protection from hostile elements.

On August 10, 1823, since Texas was then a part of Mexico, Stephen F. Austin sought and obtained additional permission from the Mexican government to employ ten men, from a group of volunteers, to protect the new Texas frontier. Thus, the history of the Texas Rangers began with duties to "range" over wide areas so as to scout the movements of the renegade Indians. From these ranging activities, the Texas Rangers derived their name.

In 1835, the Texas Rangers were formally organized with twenty-five men to form one Ranger Company. The control of the Rangers was placed under the command of the military Commander-in-Chief of the forces of Texas. At that time, the Ranger’s primary concern was to protect against hostile Indians, but was also structured to protect against outlaws and Mexican bandits. In order to survive, Rangers were forced to learn the Indian ways, which included learning to be horsemen equal to the Indians.

The Texas Ranger organization became better established during the period of the Republic of Texas, 1836 to 1846, but the Rangers were not without criticism and underwent movements of abolishment. Rangers were able to survive because the organization was structured in a less expensive manner than that of a regular army. The Rangers did undergo short term of abolishment but were always called back into service. The early years were times of conflict since Texas and Mexico were in constant dispute over territory. The differences finally lead to a war between Texas and Mexico, when Texas joined the Union and became a member of the United States in 1845.

In 1846, General Zachery Taylor formed troops to cross the Rio Grande into Mexico. The Texas Rangers became a part of Taylor's troops and thus, undertook a new dimension. The Rangers became a part of a complete military structure yet, this did not alter their effectiveness. The Rangers gained national prominence for the first time and were considered to be the best troops in the American Army.

For ten years following the end of the war with Mexico, the task of protecting the frontier was assumed by United States Army troops. The Rangers saw little service during that period, but in 1861, Texas seceded from the Union leaving the total job of protection once again to the Texas Rangers. The Rangers soon occupied the forts abandoned by the United States troops and readjusted so as to provide protection for the residents of Texas during the Confederacy years. When the War of Northern Aggression ended, the Ranger force was disbanded by the United States Military authorities.

A part of Texas ceased to exist, not because of disorganization within the Texas Rangers, but because of the historical period of Union control. The frontier was soon to become unsafe when corrupt politicians gained control of the military forces. In 1874, the Texas Legislature, once again controlled by honest and responsible men, passed a bill creating six Ranger companies and a special force of one Ranger Company. The responsibility of the Rangers became two fold; protection against Indians and restoring law and order in Texas....and so they did.

That ain't no Lady on that Longhorn. She's a Texan!