Support provided by:
The Case:
In the decades following the Civil War, more than six million cattle were herded from Texas to the railhead in Kansas in one of the greatest known migrations of animals in the United States.
These 19th-century cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail only lasted twenty years, but had tremendous impact across the country: it lifted Texas out of post-Civil War poverty, provided much-needed affordable beef to the Northeast, and gave birth to the classic American cowboy legend.
In the small town of Donna, Texas, near the Mexican border, a historic marker declares that the famous trail ran through this area, yet many dispute the idea that the trail ever made it this far south. Is the marker another bit of famed Texas bravado or misguided history? A local historian wants to set the record straight.
History Detectives heads deep into the heart of Texas to help solve a local mystery and shed light on this lively chapter in American history.
Texas Land Office Maps
Check out the maps used to solve this mystery from the archives of the Texas General Land Office.
Related Content
Technique:
Feature:
Explore
-
Related Investigation
Civil War Letters
What can these letters reveal about a racially-charged massacre on a Civil War battlefield?
-
Related Investigation
Copperhead Cane
How did this cane inspire a fiery political movement that threatened Lincoln's presidency?
-
Also in Season 4
Lost Musical Treasure
Are these fragments of a lost moment in American musical history?
-
Also in Season 4
Doc Holliday's Watch
Was this watch a gift from the fearless frontier lawman Wyatt Earp to the gambler Doc Holliday?
-
Also with Elyse Luray
Kittery Telescope
What can this telescope reveal about America’s earliest struggles for independence?
-
Also in Expansion: 1801-1861
Cannon House
Could this family home once have been the headquarters of the kidnapper and slave trader Patty Cannon?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.
Anyone wishing to submit an artifact for investigation should do so through Submit a Story.
- Submit your StoryDo you have an object from Expansion: 1801-1861? Submit your story now.
- Latest CommentDog war, world war 2, cat island, all these things are based on imagination and people just enjoys to read it. Anyways the concept is great. (10 hours ago)
- TwitterThe awesome professor we worked with today. @ Tisch School of the Arts - Tom Drysdale. Can't wait for this story! http://t.co/o7MjiSiM (2 months ago)
- FacebookOn my way to Italy in the morning for some business. I will have a day of rest in Milan. Will someone recommend the must see sights in Milan? -- Tukufu Zuberi (1 day ago)