Texas State Historical Association

In its edition for this day in 1870, the Kansas Daily Commonwealth made the earliest known printed reference to the Chisholm Trail, the major livestock route out of Texas. Cattle drovers followed the old Shawnee Trail by way of San Antonio, Austin, and Waco, where the trails split. The Chisholm Trail continued on to Fort Worth, then passed east of Decatur to the crossing at Red River Station. It followed the same route as modern U.S. Highway 81 from Fort Worth to Newton, Kansas. Although the Chisholm Trail was used only from 1867 to 1884, the longhorn cattle driven north along it provided a steady source of income that helped the impoverished state recover from the Civil War. Pictured is the Chisolm Trail map as printed, a cowboy on the trail, and Jesse Chisolm.

Today we recognize Memorial Day and honor the men and women who died serving our country. Texas has a long storied past of dedicated service members, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.

Pictured here is Navy Cross recipient Doris Miller, Medal of Honor recipient Robert G. Cole, and the legendary 90th Infantry Division, originally nicknamed the "Alamo Division" before earning fame on the battlefields of Europe as the "Tough 'Ombres."

You can learn about their heroic actions and sacrifice in The Handbook of Texas.