Van Horn in Culberson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

San Antonio-California Trail

(Three Miles South)

Photographed By Richard Denney, April 14, 2014

1. San Antonio-California Trail Marker

Probable mount of missing marker.

Inscription. One of Texas' first cross-country wagon trails. The San Antonio-El Paso section of this route was surveyed in 1848 by a party under the intrepid Indian fighter Jack Hays. Used first by emigrants and gold-seekers, it became part of the San Antonio-San Diego mail line (1857), one of America's pioneer mail services. Passengers on the line paid $200 (one-way) to share a swaying Concord coach with 600 pounds of mail and braved bandits, dust, floods, and Indians to spend 27 days traveling 1,500 miles. Service ended in 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Erected 1968 by State of Texas. (Marker Number 12657.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 31° 2.346′ N, 104° 53.819′ W. Marker was in Van Horn, Texas, in Culberson County. Marker was on Interstate 10, 2½ miles west of West Broadway Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Van Horn TX 79855, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. Culberson County (within shouting distance of this marker); Van Horn Cemetery (approx. 3.4 miles away); Presbyterian Church

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(approx. 3.7 miles away); Clark Hotel (approx. 3.9 miles away); Van Horn Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.9 miles away); Culberson County Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.9 miles away); Colonel David Culberson (approx. 4 miles away); Original Culberson County Jail (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Van Horn.

More about this marker. The State of Texas records that this marker was located in a "Roadside Park, 3 mi W of Van Horn on U.S. 80". US 80 through Van Horn has (as in other parts of the state) been replaced by Interstate 20. A local sheriff confirmed this rest stop was formerly on US 80.

Photographed By Richard Denney

2. San Antonio-California Trail Marker

Panorama looking out from roadside park. Missing marker's mount visible foreground, left of photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 584 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on April 29, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.