Cowboys on the Chisholm Trail
We arrived in Fort Worth, Texas — nicknamed Cowtown — this past Wednesday just in time to set up our booth for the homeschool convention that evening. This gave us time to rest and sightsee during the day on Thursday. We weren’t off the hotel grounds before we saw our first piece of cowboy history, this historical marker showing a point on the Chisholm Trail.
The Chisholm Trail was the major route cowboys used to drive cattle from as far south as the Rio Grande to the rail line at Abilene, Kansas. Trains then carried the cattle from Abilene to markets in the East.
Ray and I tried on cowboy hats at a world famous bootmaker’s shop. Look at the size of those horns behind us. There’s a reason they’re called longhorns! I’m glad I don’t have to carry those around on my head all day!
Ray and I shared a meal (Garth and Terry did, too) at the H3 Ranch.
In true Texas style, the menu was leather and the candle holder in the center of our table was a branding iron. Just for fun, I sat on a saddle bar stool — just long enough for a picture.
We also took a peek inside the hotel lobby next door. Some swank!
Swanky, yes, but it had that true Texas style, too, as evidenced in the chair below — big and covered in cowhide.
The Chisholm Trail went right down a street in old Ft. Worth. Longhorns and cowboys on horses reenact a cattle drive every day. We had just enough time to hang around for the 4:00 p.m. drive before the convention began that evening. As we strolled to the spot where the drive begins, we passed cowboys and horses waiting to participate.
We also passed a saddled-up cow waiting for folks to have a photo op on his back. I got in line and took my turn.
By 4:00 p.m. the street was lined with folks ready for the parade to pass by. Then here came the cowboys, horses, and longhorns!
We learned from the sign beside that first Chisholm Trail marker that one man, a Mr. Robert L. (Bob) Klemme of Enid, Oklahoma, erected 400 such signs across the state of Oklahoma from 1990 to 1997.
Remembering Chisholm Trail history was so important to Mr. Klemme that he decided to make a mold and begin making 200-pound concrete posts to mark the trail. After Klemme made 104 posts, an Oklahoma state senator heard about his project and offered to have prisoners make posts. Klemme provided the supplies and he set all the posts himself, at times setting as many as eight a day.
Remembering history is important to God, too. Remembering the history of what He had done for His people was the reason for the Passover meal and for the instructions He gave to parents in Deuteronomy 6 and 11.
Don’t forget to remember to help your children remember the most important things so they won’t forget.
Your name, O Lord, is everlasting,
Your remembrance, O Lord, throughout all generations.
Psalm 135:13
I love seeing everywhere you and Mr. Notgrass go!! And I loved your outfit….too cute!
Thank you so much, Rebecca. This was very kind and sweet.
This is very kind! And thank you so much.
I think Ray is a natural in the cowboy hat, but you rocked riding the cow! 😉 What fun to see all the western things.
You are very sweet. Thank you!
Thank you! You are so sweet!