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t was the glory years for the Texas Longhorns and the cowboys who drove them, and 150 years later, the history of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives is being celebrated. For both dedicated ranchers and weekend hobbyists, the Longhorn is a link to the Old West – a link that keeps the breed going strong today.


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In the 1800s, Texas was the main location for the wild long-horned cattle, although they were found as far west as California. However, the start of the Civil War in 1861 interrupted the migration of new settlers, and it was not until the end of the war that the Texas Longhorn made its entrance into American folklore. Many returning veterans began claiming unmarked cattle and branding them as their own. While the cattle herds in the Eastern states were largely depleted by 1865, there were an estimated 10 million Longhorns roaming free in the American Southwest.


Seeing the value of these untamed cattle and their survivability in the harshest of climates, several cattlemen saw the potential of a huge market. By 1866, a Longhorn steer worth as little as $2 in Texas was worth as much as $50 at the Kansas City railheads. Before long, cowboys on horseback drove thousands of cattle from Texas to points in Kansas and Missouri. In 1867, Abilene, Kansas, became the first cow town and a major railhead for shipment of cattle to Eastern states.


The Chisholm Trail, pioneered by Jesse Chisholm, became the first step to taking Texas Longhorns to the new cow town. The trail led from Texas to Abilene, Kansas, where the cattle were transported to the eastern states. Drovers and young cowboys led the cattle to market on the good routes, but the work was hard and dangerous. Stampedes, floods, and attacks by bands of Indians were only some of the dangers faced. Despite these hardships, millions of head of Longhorn cattle had been driven the length of the Chisholm.


Eventually, one of the strengths of the Longhorns – their immune system – helped


contribute to their downfall. Many ranchers began importing what was believed to be improved European breeds of cattle. They were beefier and had more fat content than Texas Longhorns, but they were also more susceptible to Cattle Tick Fever. While the immune system of the Longhorns gave them a resistance to Cattle Tick Fever, the ticks that traveled north on them wreaked havoc on the other breeds of cattle. As a result, many ranchers began to prohibit the passage of Longhorn cattle drives across their lands. Fewer cattlemen were willing to take the risks of the Texas cattle business, and by 1888, the Chisholm Trail was closed for the romanticized cattle drives.


Just like the Texas Longhorns, the trails that helped keep the cattle from extinction is a key part of American history and a symbol of survival. Not only for the cattle, but also for the cowboys who survived the trying trails. Thanks to those who led the cattle and the efforts of thousands of dedicated enthusiasts after the trails ended, the Texas Longhorn has continued to be a beloved symbol of American heritage for generations.


How You Can Be A Part Of The Celebration


There are several locations for museums, markers of the trail, as well as monuments to visit in order to see the Trail. In Waco, Texas, Waco’s Old Suspension Bridge is near an actual part of the Chisholm Trail. It served as an easier crossing, but now, “Branding the Brazos”, a bronze sculpture depicts life on the Trail. Who can mention the Chisholm Trail without mentioning the Fort Worth Stockyards? While it boasts historic brick pavement and restored mercantile buildings, one attraction to be a part of is the cattle drive down the main street. It is held each day and serves as a great reminder of the historic Trail. Saint Jo, Texas, is a small stop of the Chisholm Trail near the Oklahoma border. The Stonewall Saloon still stands today, and was the first permanent structure in town that served as a stop for thirsty drovers. It is now a museum for Trail enthusiasts. In Duncan, Oklahoma, visit the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, which holds a great collection celebrating the history, art, and culture of the Chisholm Trail.


The Chisholm Trail: Driving the American West is a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail. It is a traveling exhibit that includes; information about the leaders in the Chisholm Trail, details of life on the trail for the cowboys and cattle, and description of how the American cowboy became an icon. There are several interactive explorations as well as several life-size Longhorn cattle statues. It is a collaboration between Symphony of the Flint Hills and Flint Hill Design with major sponsorship from Lost Trail Soda. Although it has already started, there are still a few locations left on the exhibit tour.


Host Locations:


Symphony in the Flint Hills, Cottonwood Falls, KS, January 29,2017 – March 7, 2018


Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Abilene, KS, August 24, 2017 – October 17, 2017


Kaufman Museum, North Newton, KS, December 14, 2017 – April 3, 2018


Boot Hill Museum, Dodge City, KS, September 20, 2018 – November 13, 2018


2017 AUGUST i TEXAS LONGHORN JOURNAL 45


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