Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Chisholm Trail
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 12, 2011
1. The Chisholm Trail Marker
Inscription.
The Chisholm Trail. . At the close of the Civil War when millions of longhorns were left on the plains of Texas without a market, the Union Pacific was building west across Kansas. Joseph McCoy, an Illinois stockman, believed these cattle could be herded over the prairies for shipment by rail. He built yards at Abilene and sent agents to notify the Texas cattlemen. The trail he suggested ran from the Red river to Abilene but took its name from Jesse Chisholm, Indian trader, whose route lay between the North Canadian river and this vicinity. In 1867 the first drives were made and during the next five years more than a million head moved north past this place. Eventually the railroads and the barbed wire of settlers closed the long trails. But the cowboys of these great drives, living in the saddle for more than a month, swimming flooded rivers, fighting night stampedes, have become the heroes of an American epic.
At the close of the Civil War when millions of longhorns were left on the plains of Texas without a market, the Union Pacific was building west across Kansas. Joseph McCoy, an Illinois stockman, believed these cattle could be herded over the prairies for shipment by rail. He built yards at Abilene and sent agents to notify the Texas cattlemen. The trail he suggested ran from the Red river to Abilene but took its name from Jesse Chisholm, Indian trader, whose route lay between the North Canadian river and this vicinity. In 1867 the first drives were made and during the next five years more than a million head moved north past this place. Eventually the railroads and the barbed wire of settlers closed the long trails. But the cowboys of these great drives, living in the saddle for more than a month, swimming flooded rivers, fighting night stampedes, have become the heroes of an American epic.
Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 62.)
45.636′ N, 97° 20.172′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. Marker is on Broadway, 0.3 miles north of I-235 Exit 15, on the right when traveling north. Marker is at a roadside pulloff. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4161 North Broadway, Wichita KS 67219, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 12, 2011
2. The Chisholm Trail Marker
Looking north
Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 889 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 15, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
