April 16, 2021
By News Director Jared Atha
Thursday, Congressman Frank Lucas of Cheyenne (OK-03) joined Representative Ron Estes (KS-04) in introducing legislation to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Western National Historic Trail and the Chisholm National Historic Trail.
The Great Western Cattle Trail runs north and south prominently through western Oklahoma.
In a statement, Congressman Lucas said “As our country expanded westward, the Chisholm Trail and the Western Trail became critical lifelines for the people of the Great Plains. Cattle ranchers across Western Oklahoma have always played an integral part throughout Oklahoma’s history, establishing a number of local economies across the Plains through trade and transportation,” said Congressman Lucas. “Designating these trails as historic trails will not only preserve the significance of these trails in Oklahoma and across the Great Plains, but it will also allow us to continue to educate future generations of Americans and provide countless economic opportunities across Oklahoma.”
The Great Western Cattle Trail – also known as the Dodge City Trail and the Old Texas Trail – was utilized from 1874 to 1886 for the movement of cattle from Texas to markets in Kansas. The trail began at Bandera, Texas, crossed the Red River into Oklahoma Territory at Doan’s Crossing south of present day Altus, weaved its way north through Jackson, Kiowa, Greer, and Washita Counties and ended, most often, in Dodge City, Kansas. The entire trail extended from southern Texas to the Canadian border. It is estimated between 10 and 12 million cattle were driven north from Texas into Dodge City.
The Chisholm Trail was a series of trails that led ranchers from Texas to Kansas, crossing the Red River though current-day Oklahoma. The trail acquired its name from Jesse Chisholm, a Scotch/Cherokee trader and government interpreter, who established a trading post in what is now western Oklahoma City.
According to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, more than 1.5 million head of Longhorn cattle were driven up the Chisholm Trail to Abilene from 1867 to 1871.
Lucas cosponsored similar legislation- the Chisholm National Historic and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act– in the 116th Congress.
