The Great Western Cattle Trail was used during the late 1800’s to move cattle from Mexico to markets in the northern plains states.  In five short years, it became one of the most traveled and famous cattle trails in U.S. history. Despite its popularity, traffic along the trail began to decline in 1885.  By the end of the trail in the early 1890’s, an estimated six to seven million cattle and one million horses had traversed the trail.

The Great Western Trail traveled through Coleman County where residents will honor their heritage this weekend with the Great Western Trail Days and Longhorn Show.

“Coleman, Texas and Santa Anna and all throughout this part of the area are all part of the Great Western Trail so we are just looking back at our history and trying to find a place for it nowadays,” said Ashlee Miller, Coleman County rancher and organizer of the Longhorn Show.

“There’s lots of color there, lots of horns and lots of kids showing so it should be very fun,” Miller said.

Events Saturday, April 24, will take place in downtown Coleman around the courthouse, at the Coleman Public Library downtown, at Heritage Hall on West College and at the Goree Expo Center at the Coleman Rodeo Grounds.  See the full schedule of events for Great Western Trail Days and Longhorn Show in the link below.

GWTD-2021-Schedule-of-Events71

You can learn more on the website greatwesterntraildays.com.