DUANE
Texas Historical Markers by Theme
Cowboys, Cattle Drives, and Ranching Markers in Texas
After the Civil War, Texas cattle drives pushed millions of longhorns north up trails like the Chisholm and the Goodnight-Loving, and big ranches spread across the plains. These markers remember the trails, the ranches, and the cowhands, each told out loud by Duane.
494 stories across 163 Texas counties, each with the official marker text alongside Duane's telling.
Start with these Cowboys & Cattle stories
- McBride Ranch HouseAmarillo
(Built 1903) A pioneer settler quarried Alibates dolomite from the canyon rim to build this house, mortared with lime burned on the site.
- R.F. Tankersley HomesteadVeribest
Richard Franklin Tankersley was born June 23, 1828, in Georgia and married Annie Allen of Aberdeen, Mississippi, in 1848.
- Shoe Bar Ranch HeadquartersLakeview
On first ranch in Hall County, started in 1880s by pioneer cattlemen T. S. Bugbee and O. H. Nelson. This residence was built about 1884.
- Stafford-Miller HouseColumbus
Ornate Victorian house built for millionaire cattleman - banker Robert E. Stafford (1834-90), one of the organizers of Columbus Meat & Ice…
- AudubonAlvord
A vanished town which was important in this area in the 19th century. It was settled by southerners and named for naturalist John J. Audubon…
- Britt JohnsonGraham
(1823-1871) Cowboy, Indian scout, orderly at Fort Belknap in 1850s, who lost a son (Jim) as one of 12 persons killed in Elm Creek Indian raid…
- Erwin Evans SmithHoney Grove
(August 22, 1886 - September 4, 1947) Artist-photographer Erwin Evans Smith, a Fannin County native, was enchanted as a youth with the culture and…
- Estéfana Goseascochea CemeteryBrownsville
María Estéfana Goseascochea de Cavazos y de Cortina established this burial ground on her property by the mid-1800s.
Where to find Cowboys & Cattle markers
- Fort Worth25 stories
- Amarillo16 stories
- Victoria11 stories
- Canyon10 stories
- San Antonio8 stories
- Albany7 stories
- Dallas7 stories
- Weatherford7 stories
- Corpus Christi6 stories
- Lubbock6 stories
By county
Every Cowboys & Cattle story, by region
Cowboys & Cattle markers in Big Bend (24)
- Bloys Camp MeetingFort Davis vicinity
- Double MillsMarathon
- El Fortin de la CienegaShafter
- El Fortin del CiboloShafter
- Figure 2 RanchVan Horn
- First Rural School West of Pecos RiverFort Davis
- Here Milton FaverShafter
- Holland Hotel BuildingAlpine
- Horse Head Crossing on the Pecos RiverGirvin
- Horsehead CrossingGirvin
- Horsehead Crossing, C.S.A.Crane
- J.C. Carr-Bob Slight HouseAlpine
- James Buchanan GillettMarfa
- MarathonMarathon
- Marfa StockyardsMarfa vicinity
- Milton FaverShafter
- Milton Faver RanchesShafter
- Oliver Loving, C.S.A.Mentone
- Ritchey Hotel, 1886Alpine
- The Gage HotelMarathon
- ToyahToyah
- William Edward RussellMarfa
- WinkWink
- World's First RodeoPecos
Cowboys & Cattle markers in Central Texas (51)
- Audie Murphy ArenaStephenville
- Bill PickettTaylor
- Bloor HouseManor
- Boyhood Home of John A. LomaxMeridian
- Britton Dawson HomeDawson
- Callahan CountyBaird
- Cedar Chopping in Central TexasAustin
- Coleman CountyColeman
- Driskill HotelAustin
- Dublin RodeoDublin
- Early Cattle TradeRio Vista
- Fence-Cutting WarRobert Lee
- First National BankGlen Rose
- Flores RanchoFloresville
- Hittson Ranch Headquarters on Battle CreekPutnam vicinity
- John R. ("Sarge") NasworthySan Angelo
- John R. BanisterSanta Anna
- John Rankin AlfordHico
- John S. Chisum, Confederate Beef ContractorPaint Rock vicinity
- John TarletonStephenville
- Johnson County Sheriff's PosseCleburne
- Littlefield HomeAustin
- MaverickBallinger
- Mision de las Cabras ("Mission of the Goats")Floresville
- Mullins CemeterySan Angelo
- Ox-Cart Road (Section of Chihuahua Road)Helena
- Pidcoke CemeteryGatesville vicinity
- PleasantonPleasanton
- Pleasanton City CemeteryPleasanton
- R.F. Tankersley HomesteadVeribest
- Ranch Home of Charles De MontelCastroville
- Rancho del AtascosoPoteet
- Round RockRound Rock
- Runge, TexasRunge
- Salado CreekSalado
- Santa Anna CemeterySanta Anna
- Santa Anna, C.S.A.Santa Anna
- Scarbrough BuildingAustin
- Shawnee Cattle TrailItaly vicinity
- Site of Jose Antonio Navarro Ranch HeadquartersPoteet
- Site of PickettvilleBallinger
- Stampede CreekTemple
- Stroud's Blacksmith ShopDevine
- The Flores de Abrego Family and FloresvilleFloresville
- The Mulkey-Loggins HouseMidlothian
- The Old Zimmerman HomeAustin
- The Settlement of Williams RanchMullin
- The Texas Rangers and the Fence CuttersWaco
- The Waco Suspension BridgeWaco
- Town of TrickhamColeman County
- WhitehallSutherland Springs
Cowboys & Cattle markers in East Texas (12)
- Bridget NancaroNacogdoches
- Colonel Richard B. HubbardTyler
- Freeman FarmFrankston
- Goshen CemeteryEustace
- Hayes ParkWeches
- Newton County, C.S.A.Newton
- SalemBleakwood
- Sid Williams RichardsonAthens
- Site of GriffinNew Summerfield
- Site of Old Burr's Ferry (At Highway Bridge)Newton
- The Old Beef RoadBurkeville
- William RichardsonAthens
Cowboys & Cattle markers in Gulf Coast (48)
- An Arm of The Chisholm Cattle TrailCaldwell
- Arthur Henry VollentineHallettsville
- Bar H7 RanchHouston
- C. T. Beck RanchVictoria
- Cattle Drive from La BahiaGoliad
- Deming's Bridge CommunityBlessing
- Felix De LeonVictoria
- Fernando De LeonVictoria
- George GlennColumbus
- Greater Bell Zion Missionary Baptist ChurchTexas City
- Grimes CemeteryBlessing
- H. N. (Man) BellBastrop
- Harmon Saddle ShopHankamer
- J. Meredith Tatton HouseVictoria
- James A. McFaddin HomeVictoria
- James Taylor WhiteAnahuac
- Jesse H. JohnsonColumbus
- John Cole HomesteadMauriceville
- John Howland WoodVictoria
- La Bahia TrailNavasota
- Lott CemeteryGoliad
- Mission Espiritu Santo Cattle RanchVictoria
- Old Chisholm TrailCuero
- Old Niblett's Bluff, C.S.A.Orange
- Old Red Rock CemeteryRed Rock
- Old Smiley Lake and TownsiteSmiley
- Old Stafford Opera HouseColumbus
- Opelousas TrailChina
- Peyton BlandOrange
- Pilkington Slough RanchCollegeport
- Port LavacaPort Lavaca
- Robert H. and Pauline Clark HouseVictoria
- Sarah Ridge Paschal PixSmith Point
- Sargent-Rugeley HouseBay City
- Settlement CommunityTexas City
- Silvestre De LeonVictoria
- Site of HopkinsvilleGonzales
- Site of Lubbock RanchHouston
- Site Of Pierce HotelPierce
- Site of Robson's Castle and Columbus, Texas, Meat and Ice CompanyColumbus
- Stafford-Miller HouseColumbus
- The Sugar Land RefinerySugar Land
- Thomas M. StellCuero
- Victoria CountyVictoria
- Victoria CountyVictoria
- West-Wagner HomesteadHallettsville
- William Jones Elliot Heard and Egypt PlantationEgypt
- William McFaddinBeaumont
Cowboys & Cattle markers in Hill Country (39)
- Anhalt Halle and the Germania Farmer VereinSpring Branch
- Bandera, "Cowboy Capital of the World"Bandera
- Barbed WireSan Antonio
- Barbed Wire DemonstrationSan Antonio
- Bear Creek SettlementJunction
- Beef for the ConfederacyKyle
- Captain Gully CowsertJunction
- Clinton LaFayette SmithRocksprings
- El Capote RanchSeguin
- Fight of Sheriff's Posse with Cattle RustlersJunction
- First Murr RanchJunction
- Fort McKavett - Fort Clark Military RoadRoosevelt
- Great Western Cattle TrailKerrville
- Great Western Cattle TrailBandera
- Halff HouseSan Antonio
- Hancock SpringsLampasas
- HarkeyvilleSan Saba
- James Louis & Ellen Austin BakerSan Saba
- James Polk JohnsonJohnson City
- John L. Jones RanchLondon
- Kimble CountyJunction
- KoocksvilleMason vicinity
- London Town SquareLondon
- McCulloch CountyBrady
- Menger HotelSan Antonio
- Monte Vista Historic DistrictSan Antonio
- Near Route of Famous Cattle TrailLeakey
- Norton-Polk-Mathis HouseSan Antonio
- Old Beef Trail CrossingLondon
- Pegleg Crossing on the San SabaMenard
- Ragsdale-Jackman-Yarbrough HouseSan Marcos
- Scenic Loop - Boerne Stage - Toutant-Beauregard Historic CorridorHelotes
- Spanish and Mexican Land GrantsSan Antonio
- Stopping Place on the Fort Clark-Fort McKavett Military RoadRocksprings
- The Oge HouseSan Antonio
- The Veracruz Family of KyleKyle
- Turner-Davis Ranch HeadquartersRocksprings
- Western TrailBrady vicinity
- Y.O. RanchMountain Home
Cowboys & Cattle markers in North Texas (136)
- "The Poet Ranchman" Larry ChittendenStamford
- 6666 RanchGuthrie
- Albert Carver CemeteryDallas
- Alfred LaneGraford
- Allen Water Stationnan
- American Paint Horse AssociationGainesville
- Armour and CompanyFort Worth
- AudubonAlvord
- Baccus CemeteryFrisco
- Black CemeteryAlbany
- Black SpringsOran
- Bolivar, Townsite ofDenton
- Bose IkardWeatherford
- Britt JohnsonGraham
- Burial Site of John S. ChisumParis
- Burnett Horse RanchBurkburnett
- Bush Knob MassacreThrockmorton
- Cattle Trail CrossingDecatur
- Cee Vee CemeteryPaducah
- Charles GoodnightOran
- Chisholm Trail in Denton CountySanger
- Christal HouseDenton
- Citizens National BankWeatherford
- City of East DallasDallas
- Clay CountyHenrietta
- Colonel C. C. SlaughterDallas
- Colonel Isham ChisumKaufman
- Colonel Wm. Edgar Hughes of the Mill IronChildress
- Community of JermynJermyn
- Confederate Civil War Meat Packing PlantJefferson
- Cottle County CourthousePaducah
- Cowboys' Christmas BallAnson
- CV Ranch and Cee Vee CommunityPaducah
- Dad's CornerHolliday
- DeSpain BridgeCooper
- Dipping VatCanton
- Doan's CrossingDoan's Community
- Doan's Crossing on Red RiverDoan's Community
- Doans' Adobe BuildingDoan's Community
- Early Site of Southwestern Exposition and Livestock ShowFort Worth
- Early Wilbarger CountyVernon
- Eastern Cattle TrailFort Worth
- Eddleman-McFarland HouseFort Worth
- Ephraim Merrill DaggettFort Worth
- Erwin Evans SmithHoney Grove
- Fletcher RanchAbilene
- Forester RanchSanger
- Former TSTA BuildingFort Worth
- Fort Griffin Civil JailAlbany
- Fort Worth "Where the West Begins"Fort Worth
- Fort Worth Belt RailwayFort Worth
- Fort Worth Livestock ExchangeFort Worth
- Fort Worth Main Post Office BuidingFort Worth
- Fort Worth Poetry SocietyFort Worth
- Fort Worth Stock Yards CompanyFort Worth
- Fort Worth Stock Yards EntranceFort Worth
- Fort Worth Stockyards Hog and Sheep MarketsFort Worth
- Fort Worth Stockyards Horse and Mule BarnsFort Worth
- Franco-Texan Land Company BuildingWeatherford
- Frank Eben ConradAlbany
- Frank ReaghDallas
- Frank ReaughTerrell
- Frankford CemeteryDallas
- Frontier Town of Fort GriffinAlbany
- George Webb SlaughterPalo Pinto
- Goodnight TrailChildress
- Goodnight-Loving Trail in Shackelford CountyAlbany
- Granville E. WatersMoran
- Grayson CountySherman
- Great Western TrailThrockmorton
- Gregg RanchDenton
- Harmonson RanchoNewcastle
- Hell's Half AcreFort Worth
- James Robertson CoutsWeatherford
- Jesse ChisholmArlington
- John Shelby WisdomDallas
- Jonathan Hamilton BakerPalo Pinto
- Joseph G. McCoy, Promoter of Chisholm TrailDenison
- Joseph Sterling BridwellWichita Falls
- King CountyGuthrie
- Lamar County, C. S. A.Paris
- Lanius HouseFort Worth
- Little Salt Creek Indian FightOlney
- Loving, James and MargaretSunnyvale
- Lueders CemeteryLueders
- Maggie and Herod "Pap" SimpsonHolliday
- Missouri-Kansas-Texas RailroadDenison
- Mounts HouseDenton
- Mulberry CanyonMerkel
- Near Route of The Western TrailSeymour
- Noah C. BatisSanger
- Old City Greenwood CemeteryWeatherford
- Oliver LovingWeatherford
- Parsons StationWeatherford
- Penn SpringsDuncanville
- PoolvillePoolville
- Preston RoadHighland Park
- Preston Road/Shawnee TrailPottsboro
- Red River StationBowie
- RoanokeRoanoke
- Samuel Burk BurnettBurkburnett
- Sanborn RanchWhitesboro
- Sand SpringsDenison
- Sanger and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe RailwaySanger
- Shackelford CountyAlbany
- Site of Arlington Downs RacetrackArlington
- Site of Cottonwood SpringOlney
- Site of LebanonFrisco
- Site of Loving Ranch HouseJermyn vicinity
- Site of Old Headquarters of the Hashknife RanchAbilene
- Site of Western Cattle TrailAbilene
- Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie GrasslandBrookston
- Smith-Burnett HomeFort Worth
- Southwestern Exposition and Livestock ShowFort Worth
- Steel DustDallas
- Swenson Land and Cattle Company HeadquartersStamford
- Swift & CompanyFort Worth
- T. J. Campbell HouseFrisco
- Taylor CountyAbilene
- Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers AssociationFort Worth
- Texas Business Pioneer Pleasant C. SamsBenjamin
- Texas Cowboy Reunion Oldtimers' AssociationStamford
- The Gray and The BluePaducah
- The Old Buffalo RoadElectra
- The Shawnee TrailFrisco
- Thistle Hill, The Cattle Baron's MansionFort Worth
- Thomas B. Saunders FamilyFort Worth
- Town of Buffalo GapBuffalo Gap
- Town of Saint JoSaint Jo
- W. E. Henderson HomeTerrell
- Western Cattle Trail Crossings at Fort Griffin, TheAlbany
- Wilbarger CountyVernon
- Willburn CemeteryFort Worth
- William Sachse CemeteryGarland
- Witten CemeteryFort Worth
- Woody-Kutch Livestock Commission CompanyFort Worth
Cowboys & Cattle markers in Panhandle (72)
- 6666 Dixon Creek RanchPanhandle
- AmarilloAmarillo
- Amarillo Livestock AuctionAmarillo
- Anvil Park RanchCanadian
- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, The Amarillo StoryAmarillo
- Bivins HomeAmarillo
- Boot Hill CemeteryBoys Ranch
- BovinaBovina
- Bovina CemeteryBovina
- Charles GoodnightGoodnight
- Chief of the Pastores Casimiro RomeroDalhart
- City of CanyonCanyon
- Dozier CemeteryDozier
- Dreamland CemeteryCanyon
- Drift FenceStinnett
- Drift FenceStinnett
- Episcopal Church of St. Michael and All AngelsShamrock
- Finch-Lord-Nelson and the Founding of Panhandle CityPanhandle
- First Cemetery in Potter CountyAmarillo
- Fort Worth and Denver City Railway, First Railroad through the Texas PanhandleAmarillo
- Frying Pan RanchBushland
- Funeral Business in ClarendonClarendon
- Great Spanish Road / First Ranch in Potter County / First Store in Potter CountyAmarillo
- Hansford County Sheriff Robert E. (Bob) MartinSpearman
- Heartland of Old XIT RanchDalhart
- Henry B. SanbornAmarillo
- Henry Bradley SanbornAmarillo
- HigginsHiggins
- Homesite of Judge James Nathan BrowningAmarillo
- J. Evetts HaleyCanyon
- J.O. Bass Blacksmith ShopTulia
- L. T. Lester HomeCanyon
- Last Great Panhandle Cattle Drive to MontanaPanhandle
- Lucille Nance JonesCanyon
- Mary (Masterson) and John Fain HouseAmarillo
- McBride Ranch HouseAmarillo
- Mrs. Cordia Sloan DukeDalhart
- Old FarwellGruver
- Old Mobeetie TrailHedley
- Old TascosaBoys Ranch
- Olivet CemeteryFarwell
- Parmer CountyFarwell
- Potter County, Establishing ofAmarillo
- R. Dick BussellCanadian
- Randall CountyCanyon
- Robert R. YoungCanadian
- Rocking Chair "Ranche" (1883-1893)Collingsworth County
- Route of Jones & Plummer TrailBooker
- Route of Tascosa-Dodge City TrailDumas
- Route of the Old Tascosa-Dodge City TrailDumas
- Rowe CemeteryHedley vicinity
- Shoe Bar Ranch HeadquartersLakeview
- Site of an Early Barbed Wire Fence in the PanhandleCanyon
- Site of Historic Drift FenceDumas
- Site of Historic Drift FenceSunray
- Site of Old Springer's Road RanchCanadian
- Site of Old TascosaVega
- St. Stephen's Baptist ChurchClarendon
- T Anchor RanchCanyon
- TascosaBoys Ranch
- Terminus of the Santa Fe Railroad, Panhandle, TexasPanhandle
- Texas Panhandle Pioneers - The Simms BrothersPanhandle
- The Bar X (LX) First Ranch in Potter CountyAmarillo
- The Charles Goodnight Memorial TrailCanyon
- The Historic LSBoys Ranch
- The Millie Porter HouseWheeler
- The Old JA RanchCanyon
- The S.P. Hamblen FamilyWayside
- The Square HousePanhandle
- Wild Horse LakeAmarillo
- Will RogersHiggins
- William Henry BushAmarillo
Cowboys & Cattle markers in South Texas (52)
- Agua Nueva CemeteryHebbronville
- Aransas Creek SettlersSkidmore
- Baldwin-Brundrett HouseRockport
- Banquete CemeteryBanquete
- Bustamante (Rancho Las Comitas)Zapata
- Captain A.C. JonesBeeville
- Casa Blanca Land GrantBanquete
- Cattle Drives from South TexasCorpus Christi
- Chapman RanchChapman Ranch
- Chisholm TrailCameron County
- Civil War Raid from Camp BovedaRiviera
- Cotulla RanchCotulla
- Edward Burleson RaymondRaymondville
- El Paso de JacintoLaredo
- Estéfana Goseascochea CemeteryBrownsville
- Frank RabbBrownsville
- Franklin RanchTilden
- Gregory SchoolGregory
- Hebrew Rest CemeteryCorpus Christi
- Historic Cattle Dipping VatKingsville
- Home of George W. FultonFulton
- James Abijah BrooksFalfurrias
- James Henry DishmanCameron County
- John Howland Wood and Nancy Clark Wood HouseBayside
- Joseph French Green and La Quinta MansionGregory
- Juan H. Fernandez StoreBrownsville
- King Ranch, C.S.A.Kingsville
- Live Oak County CourthouseGeorge West
- Live Oak County JailOakville
- Martha (Reagan) Rabb (February 25, 1826-March 20, 1901)Robstown
- McAllen RanchLinn
- Miguel Fernandez Hide YardBrownsville
- Military Highway of the Lower Rio Grande ValleyMercedes
- Mustang IslandPort Aransas
- Near Site of Hide and Tallow Plant ( King Ranch, 1866-69)Kingsville
- Nuecestown (4 Miles North)Corpus Christi
- P.P. Ackley and the Texas Chisholm TrailDonna
- Padre Island and Padre Nicolas BalliCorpus Christi
- Pat Dunn RanchCorpus Christi
- President William Howard Taft Visits TaftTaft
- Rabb PlantationBrownsville
- Richard and Minerva King HouseCorpus Christi
- Sally ScullRefugio
- San Jose de la Mulada RanchEl Sauz
- Solis CemeteryLa Feria
- T-C Ranch HouseTivoli
- The Armstrong RanchSarita
- The King RanchKingsville
- The Railroad in Bee CountyBeeville
- Town of La FeriaLa Feria
- Town of PettusPettus
- White Point/RositaOdem
Cowboys & Cattle markers in West Texas (60)
- 1902-1904 Land RushesGail
- BarnhartBarnhart
- Bledsoe Santa Fe DepotLubbock
- Buffalo TrailsColorado City
- Castle GapMcCamey
- Channel of Deep CreekSnyder
- Cochran CountyMorton
- Colonel C. C. SlaughterPlainview
- Cottonwood Mott Line CampMatador
- County's First Law MenSnyder
- Coyote LakeNeedmore
- D.W. "80 John" WallaceLoraine
- Della PlainFloydada
- EarthEarth
- Elliott RanchRankin
- EspuelaDickens
- Henry H. CampbellMatador
- Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright MooarSnyder
- Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright MooarSnyder
- Home County of Famous Frontiersman J. Wright MooarSnyder
- J. Frank NorfleetHale Center
- Llano RanchPost
- Lynn CountyTahoka
- Mackenzie Scout TrailLubbock
- Matador RanchMatador
- Mendoza TrailMcCamey
- MidkiffMidkiff
- Midland & Northwestern RailroadMidland
- Midland and Northwestern RailroadAndrews
- Midland CountyMidland
- Mitchell CountyColorado City
- Mount Blanco CommunityCone
- Mushaway PeakGail
- Nicolett HotelLubbock
- Ozona-Barnhart Trap CompanyOzona
- Ransom CanyonLubbock
- Renderbrook RanchWestbrook
- Replica of XIT's Giant WindmillLittlefield
- Rocky Ford Crossing and CommunityAmherst
- Running Water CommunityPlainview
- Site of ChicagoLamesa
- Site of O.K. Wagon YardSnyder
- Sites of Texas & Pacific Railway DepotsColorado City
- Slaughter Ranch HeadquartersMorton
- Spring LakeEarth
- Sterling CountySterling City
- Sutton County CourthouseSonora
- TahokaTahoka
- Tee Pee CityMatador
- Texas & Pacific RailwayColorado City
- Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' AssociationDel Rio
- The Founding of Colorado CityColorado City
- The Free Range Era of RanchingLubbock
- The Motley County RailroadMatador
- The Old MacKenzie TrailPlainview
- The Spade RanchSmyer
- The Torres FamilyLangtry
- The XIT Ranch South LineMuleshoe
- V-8 RanchPosey
- Willie Lusk Jr.Lubbock
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