Great Western Trail - Moran, TX
Posted by: 
The Snowdog
N 32° 32.879 W 099° 09.826
14S E 484624 N 3601190
This marker on the north side of Texas Highway 6 marks a crossing point with the Great Western Trail - in Moran, Texas
Waymark Code: WM195KX
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/30/2023
Views: 0
This marker for a crossing of the Great Western Trail is on the northeast side of Texas Highway 6, by a pair of Texas Historical markers. There is room to pull off and park at the markers.
The Great Western Cattle Trail, also known as the Western Trail, Fort Griffin Trail, Dodge City Trail, Northern Trail, and Texas Trail, wasn’t as well known as some of the other cattle trails but it was longer and carried cattle for two years longer than did the Chisholm Trail. It is estimated in the years that the Great Western Cattle Trail existed between 6,000,000 to 10,000,000 head of cattle move from Texas to Kansas. Each heard averaged 3000 head of cattle, 70 horses, and 10 men. The trail fell from use due to increased use of barbed wire that blocked cattle drives, extension of the railroads further south, and the quarantine of Texas cattle due to "Texas Fever" (caused by a tick). The last reported drive on the Great Western Trail was made by John Rufus Blocker, who drove his herd from West Texas all the way to Deadwood, South Dakota.
Road of Trail Name: Great Western Trail
State: Texas
County: Shackelford
Historical Significance:
One of several major cattle trails used to bring beef from Texas up to Kansas for shipment by rail to the East Coast.
Years in use: 1874-1885
How you discovered it:
Oklahoma History Class, circa 1975.
Book on Wagon Road or Trial:
The Western: The Greatest Texas Cattle Trail by Gary and Margaret Kraisinger (978-0975482803)
Website Explination:
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/great-western-cattle-trail/
Why?:
Driving cattle from South Texas to the railheads in Kansas
Directions:
Follow your GPS and park in the pull out at the historical markers here.
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Visit Instructions:
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