Old Chisholm Trail Centennial Monument

From a Longhorn cattle gathering site at Cardwell Flats near Cuero, Texas, 1800 Longhorns were headed up and moved out on April 1, 1866, on the first Chisholm cattle drive to northern markets. Crockett Cardwell, owner of the cattle bedground, had gathered the herd, with Thornton Chisholm of DeWitt County serving as trail boss and G. M. (Tip) Alexander of Cuero serving as one of the cowboy trail drivers. Departing from near Cuero, the Old Chisholm Trail proceeded toward Doan's Red River crossing and then into Oklahoma, Kansas, and finally Missouri seven months later. The drive is remembered as part of the greatest movement of animals in history under the control and direction of men, carried out by brave, hardy pioneers who blazed trails through the wilderness and endured many hardships.

Cuero, Texas · United States