Near Beeville in Bee County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Early Trails in Bee County
Photographed By Dave W, March 20, 2022
1. Early Trails in Bee County Marker
From pack trails and wagon roads that marked this area at least 300 years, have developed such modern roads as U.S. Highway 181. The old trails of Indians, wild cattle and mustang horses formed highways for 17th, 18th and 19th century expeditions coming from Mexico to claim sovereignty for Spain over land of Texas. When pioneers established land grants in this section, they also found Indian trails useful, placing towns along them. Beeville, the county seat, was situated at the natural intersection of San Patricio-Helena Road with Goliad-Laredo Road.
About 20 miles south, the Matamoros-Goliad Road ("Camino Real" to old-timbers) was probably the most historic road in this area. In the years 1861-1865 the "cotton road"—called "lifeline of the southern Confederacy"—crossed Bee County. A later route of great value was a cattle trail that channeled thousands of Longhorns from the Rio Grande to the Red River and up the Dodge City Trail or the Chisholm Trail to northern markets. In this area were also La Para (or Grapevine) Road; the Indianola-Papalote Road; and a road to now vanished St. Mary's, a port on Copano Bay, off the Gulf of Mexico.
Erected 1968 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 1359.)
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Location. 28° 29.07′ N, 97° 46.698′ W. Marker is near Beeville, Texas, in Bee County. Marker is at the intersection of Business U.S. 181J and U.S. 181, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 181JBusiness . Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4878 US 181J Business, Beeville TX 78102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Community of Normanna (approx. 2.3 miles away); George Home (approx. 5½ miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Beeville (approx. 5½ miles away); First Baptist Church of Beeville (approx. 5.6 miles away); Tuleta (approx. 5.7 miles away); William E. Madderra Home (approx. 5.7 miles away); Saint Joseph's Catholic Church (approx. 5.7 miles away); Glenwood Cemetery (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beeville.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 175 times since then and 16 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 29, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and surrounding area in context. • Can you help?
