LIVING HISTORY

Texas Revolution comes to life at new immersive attraction in Gonzales

'Texas Legacy in Lights' puts audiences in the midst of Texas history.

Facebook/Texas Legacy in Lights

A brand new way to experience the history of the Lone Star State has debuted at the Gonzales Memorial Museum, located about two hours from Houston. Texas Legacy in Lights bills itself as the "world's first permanent, narrative-driven, live-action projection mapping film."

The film was produced and directed by Gonzales native John Franklin Rinehart, who used 3D mapping projection to bring to life the story of the Texas Revolution starting in 1835, including the Battle of Gonzales. It is projected in HD on the museum’s façade after dark, and audiences are encouraged to sit on the museum lawn to take in the one-of-a-kind visual presentation that puts them in the middle of the action.

"It's a great experience for our city," says Gonzales Mayor Isaac Anzaldua. "Everybody here seems to be enjoying themselves, and with this, they begin to understand where they came from. We still embody the same spirit of 'come and take it' that they had back in 1835."

The film delves into the little-known history of the iconic "Come and Take It" flag created by Sarah DeWitt, who sewed it from her daughter's wedding dress. Peggy Schott (Fear the Walking Dead) portrays the iconic Texas pioneer.

"I had family in Texas before the Revolution who were there, and I was so excited to join this project," Schott says in a press release. "It's hard to find stories of the women from that time. I'm honored to play Sarah DeWitt and to tell her story in a way that will inspire people for years to come."

A woman's face in the Texas Legacy in Lights Show An image from the immersive new Texas history projection show. Photo courtesy of Texas Legacy in Lights

Most stories of the Texas Revolution focus on the more famous moments at the end of the war, such as the fall of the Alamo and the decisive victory at San Jacinto. Texas Legacy of Lights, instead, highlights the opening volleys in the war for independence from Mexico, many of which took place in and around Gonzales.

"One hundred years from now," Mayor Anzaldua says, "our community will look back and see how we continued to embody the Come and Take It spirit — a spirit of determination, love, and peace. To know that we share a part in shaping the future of our great city is exciting and very rewarding."

The outdoor presentation runs Tuesday-Sunday at 8:25 pm and 9:15 pm at the Gonzales Memorial Museum (414 Smith St). Screenings are free and open to the public. Watch the trailer for the film here:

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the future of boarding

American Airlines to launch new boarding process at Texas airport

American Airlines new electronic boarding gates at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Rendering courtesy of American Airlines

The new electronic boarding gates are intended to create a user-friendly experience.

Houston travelers making flight connections at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport through American Airlines might spot a new futuristic feature rolling out later this year: electronic boarding gates. The days of handing over boarding passes for an airline attendant to scan before boarding an American flight are coming to an end.

About 20 electronic boarding gates will be installed at American Airlines' new Terminal A and Terminal C expansions that are expected to open at DFW this summer, a release states.

These new gates will streamline "manual tasks" for staff during the boarding process by automatically validating travelers' boarding passes. The process should regulate the speed of boarding to reduce passenger congestion and to "improve jet bridge flow." The gates' touchscreens will provide instructions to passengers before boarding their flight.

The electronic boarding gates are intended to create a "more seamless and consistent process" for both employees and travelers, according to American's Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden.

"This innovative change is part of a broader shift toward creating a more intuitive travel journey, one that blends technology and service to guide customers through each step with greater ease and confidence, delivering a modern, consistent experience wherever they travel with us," Garboden said.

American says it will be the first major airline to offer Dormakaba Argus Air XS electronic boarding gates at scale at one of the largest U.S. air transport hubs. The new boarding gates were piloted in November 2025 and received positive feedback from users and staff.

After the DFW launch, American will begin rolling out the new boarding process at other airports to "standardize the boarding experience across the network." Time will tell whether that includes Houston's airport system.

These new changes are also part of American Airlines' ongoing initiative to expand operations out of DFW. In April, the airline expanded its structure from nine to 13 banks to offer travelers more departure options in highly desired time windows — and fewer early morning departures.

Other enhancements include improving connecting flights and adding 15 new routes to cities like Chicago and Phoenix starting this summer. Even smaller changes like debuting new in-flight condiments from movie star Glen Powell's Smash Kitchen are elevating travelers' experiences.

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