FIRST - Ranch on the Staked Plains - Palo Duro, Texas
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 34° 58.793 W 101° 55.030
14S E 233698 N 3874700
From the Panhandle-Plains Museum to the Palo Duro Canyon, is almost the exact route he took when he came to Texas with 1600 head of cattle.
Waymark Code: WM133HB
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/08/2020
Views: 0
>County of Marker: Randall County
Location of Marker: 4th Ave., main entrance to Panhandle-Plains Museum, Canyon
Marker Erected by: State Historical Survey Committee
Date Marker Erected: 1968
Marker Text:
THE CHARLES GOODNIGHT MEMORIAL TRAIL
The highway from this museum to the Palo Duro State Park (12 miles east) approximates course used by Charles Goodnight, outstanding Texas cowman and trail blazer, when he trailed 1600 cattle from Colorado to found
first ranch on the staked plains of Texas in 1876.
He entered precipitous Palo Duro Canyon by way of old Comanche Indian trail; drove thousands of buffalo from what is now park area; established his home ranch a few miles farther down canyon.
Goodnight was born in Illinois, March 5, 1836. At age of 9 he rode bareback to Texas behind covered wagon driven by his parents; he hunted with Caddo Indians beyond the frontier at 14; guided Texas Rangers fighting Comanche and Kiowas at 25; blazed cattle trails about 2,000 miles long with Oliver Loving at 30.
In partnership with John G. Adair, he expanded his original Palo Duro ranch into the giant JA and other holdings of more than a million acres and 100,000 cattle. He preserved the buffalo, founded a college, encouraged the settlement of the plains and led in a long fight for law and order.
This foremost plainsman died March 12, 1929; and is buried at Goodnight, Texas.
(1968)
A statue to Col. Charles Goodnight is on the lawn to the east of the museum, and if you saw Lonesome Dove and the trek Capt. Call took to bring Gus back to be buried, the author took that straight from the life of Col. Goodnight.
You can read more here: Answers or here: Bio
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