Texas Curiosities

Texas Curiosities brings to the reader with humor and affection-and a healthy dose of attitude-the oddest, quirkiest, and most outlandish places, personalities, events, and phenomena found within the state's borders and in the chronicles of its history. From the world's largest squirrel (property of Cedar Creek) to the world's oldest washing machine (at the Washing Machine Museum in Mineral Wells), Texas Curiosities is a who's who of unusual and unsung heroes that will amuse Texas residents and visitors alike.

John Kelso was a humor columnist with the Austin American-Statesman in Austin, Texas, from 1977 and well through his 2011 retirement, publishing his last column just a few weeks before he passed away from complications with a second bout of cancer in 2017. He received an award for humor writing in 2005 from the National Press Club. He lived in South Austin with his wife, Kay; daughter, Rachel; dogs Harry, Ziggy, and Belle; cats Bitsy, Nutmeg, Oreo, and Scooter; and a bunch of other neighbor cats who hang out in the garage. Paris Permenter and John Bigley are a husband-wife team of travel writers who make their home in the Hill Country west of Austin. In addition to writing for many magazines and newspapers, they have written numerous guidebooks, including Insiders' Guide® to San Antonio,Day Trips® from Austin, and Day Trips® from Houston.