This marker is found at the NW corner of Legion Park in El Reno, OK. It commerates part of the Chisholm Trail that is now incorporated into El Reno.
Interesting facts about the Chisholm Trail:
1. It was actually known as Jesse Chisholm's Trail during his life and did not get its modern moniker till after his death.
2. Jesse Chisholm never took part in a cattle drive along the trail named after him! Jesse Chisholm was a store owner near modern-day Duncan, Oklahoma. The trail was named after him because it followed the route his supply wagons took.
3. In central Oklahoma, the trail had an eastern and western section. The eastern part was followed by cattle and went through Yukon. The western part took an easier Canadian River crossing and went through El Reno. It was typically followed by wagons.
4. Although many, notably Texans, try to trace the trail in Texas, it never truly existed down there. The Texas portion consisted of a number of short feeder trails which all came together at the Red River crossing into Oklahoma. It was on the Oklahoma side of the river that the official trail existed.
5. To follow the trail, drive along US 81. If you find and follow the older portions of the road instead of the modern ones, you can easily imagine the landscape seen by the longhorn and cowboys. This waymark is located in a much more urban setting, on the northwest corner of W. Pine and S. Keith Ave. in El Reno.
To learn more, one of the best sites is "Along the Chisholm Trail:" (
visit link)