Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Rock Art at Hot Springs

Photographed By Richard Denney, March 24, 2012

1. Rock Art at Hot Springs Marker

Inscription. When J.O. Langford homesteaded this section in 1909, he was moving into an area that had long been inhabited by native Americans. Walk this trail to view pictograph and petroglyphs created by prehistoric people hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Do not touch any surfaces containing rock art: the natural oils on your hands will cause the images to decay.

Pictographs are images painted onto rock.
Petroglyphs are images carved or pecked into rock.

Numerous red pictographs decorate the cliff face. The red coloring is a pigment made from hematite, a mineral sometimes called “red ocher”. Cinnabar, or mercury ore, was also used in this area to produce a maroon pigment. Pigments were usually mixed with a binder of blood, egg or animal fat, which made the pigment adhere to the rock surface.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Native Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 29° 10.676′ N, 102° 59.883′ W. Marker is in Big Bend National Park, Texas, in Brewster County. Marker can be reached from Hot Springs Road, 1½ miles Rio Grande Village Drive, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Big Bend National Park TX 79834, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3

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miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Reminders of the Past (a few steps from this marker); If You Build It... (within shouting distance of this marker); Community (within shouting distance of this marker); Hot Springs Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Healing Waters (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cool Mountains (approx. 2.2 miles away); River and Springs (approx. 2.2 miles away); Chihuahuan Desert (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Bend National Park.

Also see . . .
1. Hot Springs (Big Bend National Park). Wikipedia (Submitted on March 27, 2012, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.)

2. Hot Springs - Big Bend National Park. National Park Service (Submitted on March 27, 2012, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.)

Photographed By Richard Denney, March 24, 2012

2. Rock Art at Hot Springs Marker

Marker is located on the ground, near the end of the old Hot Springs motel building. Cliff face with pictographs are to the right of this picture.

Sample photo of pictographs on cliff face image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney, March 24, 2012

3. Sample photo of pictographs on cliff face

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2012, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,015 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 27, 2012, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.