A Free-standing landscape facsimile of trail marker was begun in May 2006 as the Vernon Red River Valley Museum and the Seymour Chamber of Commerce partnered on their new project. The unveiling of the traveling displayed was exhibited in July 2006 at 110th Rodeo Reunion in Seymour, TX. (That is the picture shown...We were setting up the display.)

Permanent copies of photos, historical documents and maps of the Western Trail can be seen at the Seymour Museum and The Chamber of Commerce office. In August of 2006 we began taking reservations for the traveling display to be exhibited at museums, schools, traveling centers, fairs, and other special occasions.
At the present it is on exhibit at in the Traveling Room
of the Red River Valley Museum. In the near future it will be traveling to Altus, Ok; Brady, TX; and Lubbock, TX.
If a community or organization wants to exhibit the display one may contact Myra Busby at the Seymour Chamber of Commerce 940-889-2921 or email scoc@nts-online.net or Mary Ann McQuistion at
the Red River Valley Museum in Vernon, TX
940-553-1848 or email museum@chipshot.net

Below you will find the Bill request which may offer more info on the trail itself. Our belief is that it will benefit rural America in our efforts to create a partnership of tourism for our communities up and down the trails as we preserve our cowboy heritage. (Much like the popularity of "Route 66" has helped rural America hold on).

Chisholm and Great Western Cattle Trails Fact Sheet

BACKGROUND

The Chisholm and Great Western Cattle Trails were used in full force during the years between the late 1860's and the late 1880's by Texas cattlemen to bring their herds to the high-demand consumers in the east. These trails started in Texas from several feeders, and journeyed north, parallel to one another, through Oklahoma to railroad depots in Kansas. Here the cattle were transported via railroad to the east.

After having endured the ravages of the Civil War, the east was experiencing a shortage of meat, and Texas was struggling economically. In addition, the east was quickly replacing an appetite for pork with a preference for beef. Hence, these two trails became an essential ingredient to help the country's economic recovery after the war, not to mention foster the legend of the cowboy. By selling their steers for a significantly larger profit to consumers in the east, Texas received the economic jolt it needed, and the east received the sustenance it could not currently provide on its own.

BRIEF BILL DESCRIPTION

This bill will designate the two trails commonly known as the Chisholm and Great Western Cattle Trails for a study to determine the suitability of placing these trails within the National Trails System as National Historic Trails. The study must be submitted to Congress within three years of enactment of this bill.

It is time to ensure the preservation and recognition of such an important piece of history as both trails went through the states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, and the Western Trail trailed on through Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, a corner of Colorado, and on into Canada. Future American generations deserve to know the importance and origins of the almost mythical cowboy, and their contributions to ensuring the recovery and future prosperity of a wounded nation.

COMMITTEE REFERRAL
Resources Committee
COSPONSORS (* = original cosponsor)

Rep Boren, Dan [D-OK-2] - 6/17/2005 *
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-25]
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3] - 6/17/2005 *
Rep McIntyre, Mike [D-NC-7]
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [D-TX-27] - 7/26/2005
Rep Rehberg, Dennis R. [R-MT]
Rep Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] - 7/26/2005

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History of Seymour and Baylor County

Murals by Bill Ines

Mural by Tom Lea in the Seymour Post Office

Seymouria baylorensis