Southwest By 4thgradeclass Jul 24, 1832 Bejamin Bonneville led the first wagon trail across the Rocky Mountains. Oct 2, 1835 The vague unrest erupted into an armed conflict at The Battle of Gonzales. Dec 20, 1835 Texas signed the declartion of Texas independence. Feb 1, 1845 Texas was not a state. Period: Feb 20, 1845 to Feb 20, 2000 1845 to 2000 Feb 21, 1845 Texas is still not a state. Feb 28, 1845 Texas became a state. Apr 25, 1846 Mexican-american war ignited. Aug 10, 1869 Powell geographic expedition was one of the first american parties or groups to sight the colorado river. Jan 1, 1901 Arizona adopted saguaro cactus as state territorial plant. Nov 16, 1907 Oklahoma became a state. Jan 16, 1912 New Mexico became a state. Feb 14, 1912 Arizona became a state. Jan 1, 1917 Arizonian flag adopted. Jun 22, 1944 Big Bend Natoinal Park became a national park. Jul 1, 1944 Big Bend National Park became open to tourists Jun 30, 1956 A TWA lockhead super constellation and a United airline Douglas DC.7 crashed above the grand canyon killing at least 128 passengers. Jan 1, 1973 Arizona adopted cactus wren as state bird. Apr 19, 1995 The Alfred P. Murrah Fedarel Building got blown up by terrorists, killing 168 people, Incuding 19 kids.