Groups representing the historic Chisholm Trail, Western Cattle Trail Association, Great Western Cattle Trail, Goodnight-Loving Trail, and the Shawnee Trail, are collaborating to promote the valuable role of cattle drives in Old West history. Together, on November 1 in Dodge City, these respresentitives signed a joint letter of support for a new Cattle Trails Consortium that would promote the shared history of the Texas cattle drivers.

As of January 2025, the Cattle Trails Consortium will sponsor a monthly zoom call on the second Friday of each month. These free zoom calls will showcase museums, historical elements, attractions, and communities along with historic trails.

Those interested in signing up for notices of these zoom calls can email girlofks@gmail.com with the subject line, “Cattle Trails Showcase.”

The letter reads as follows:

“We the undersigned believe that the pre-and post-Civil War cattle trails were and are a vital and valuable part of American history. On these trails in the late 1800s, millions of cattle were moved by drivers on horseback hundreds of miles from south Texas to markets in the east, north, and west. Not only did this trade have a significant impact on the nation’s economy, it served multiple purposes such as meeting consumer demand for beef, stocking ranches on northern ranges, and providing crucial supplies for Native American tribes. Furthermore, the exploits of the daring young riders along the trails gave rise to the American cowboy, an enduring and globally recognized icon of our nation’s strength, courage, and bravery.

“These cattle trails were known by multiple names over time, but we are united in the belief that the history of these trails has great value to our nation. We pledge to jointly work together to promote and preserve the valuable history of these cattle trails for the benefit of our communities and future generations.”