IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL CHISHOLM TRAIL ASSOCIATION

150th Anniversary Conference Information

Click Here to Download Schedule of Events
The Western Cattle Trail and the International Chisholm Trail Association continue to meet and plan the momentous 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Western Cattle Trail. This is not just a celebration but a significant milestone in our shared history, and we are excited to celebrate it with you. The November Conference to celebrate this historic event will be held in Dodge City, Kansas, at Boot Hill Museum, with a welcome from the Committee at 1:30 P.M. Friday, November 1, followed by a slate of speakers. 
The afternoon begins with trailing cattle from south Texas, the King Ranch, a Consortium to bring the cattle trails together and celebrate the anniversary of Adobe Walls' history. The afternoon ends with a chance to sit and visit with old and new friends, listen to some country music, and enjoy some well-earned appetizers at our Meet and Greet.
On Saturday, November 2, the Committee has meticulously curated a special day for you, starting at 8:30. You'll have the exclusive chance to delve into the history of the Northern Cheyenne Indians, rediscover a forgotten cattle trails, witness the last cattle drive, and learn about the art of the cattle trail. This is an exclusive opportunity you won't want to miss, a chance to be part of a historic event that few will experience.
Take advantage of this historic occasion. The Conference fee is $75.00 per person. You can sign up on our website or by mail.
Your participation is not just welcomed; it's crucial to the success of this historic event. 
The Committee is working tirelessly to plan and collaborate, and your involvement will make this celebration truly memorable. Stay updated on the unfolding events through our website, westerncattletrailassoc.com, Facebook, and Wild West Podcast. Your presence is invaluable, so remember to mark your calendars for Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2, 2024. We can't do this without you.

Conference Registration Now Closed: Live Stream Open
The conference registration is now closed. Please use the following information below to register for the Live Stream. A link to the stream will be provided in the payment receipt. The cost for Live Stream access will be $25 and for Saturday's Presentations only.
Get ready to ride into history at the 150th Anniversary Conference of the Western Cattle Trail! Mark your calendars for November 2nd, 2024, for an unmissable live stream event. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a monumental occasion—secure your live stream access today! Don’t delay; the deadline to register is Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. For those who can’t attend in person but want to witness the excitement, you can join us online for just $25.00 to purchase your access link. Don’t let this chance pass you by! Enroll today by selecting the link below.

Special Holiday Inn Express Conference Rate

Hey there, Western Cattle Trail fans! Get ready to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Western Cattle Trail in style! You can now grab a room at the fantastic Holiday Inn Express Dodge City at an exclusive conference rate. This excellent hotel is just a short walk from the Boot Hill Museum on the edge of Dodge City's historic Wright Park. To ensure you get all the benefits, call them now and let them know you're part of the Western Cattle Trail Conference. Rooms in Dodge City tend to disappear fast, so don't wait – book your spot today!
Holiday Inn Express Dodge City
201 4th Avenue
Dodge City, KS 67801
620-225-1000

SPECIAL CONFERENCE EVENTS

Thursday, October 31st: Upland Ranch, Fireside Stories

Join us for an unforgettable evening of cowboy fireside stories with historian Brad Smalley at the prestigious Upland Ranch on the edge of the Western Cattle Trail! Brad will share unique stories of the Old West, including tales from Dodge City, Cattle Trail stories, and life on the frontier. This is an event you won't want to miss.
Meet Brad, a true historian from Dodge City, Kansas, with a passion for preserving the rich history of the Wild West. With extensive experience in local and statewide tourism, Brad is the captivating voice behind the Wild West Podcast. 
His remarkable journey led him to be featured in the Emmy-nominated second season of Gunslingers on the American Heroes Channel. In 2023, the Wild West Podcast ranked in the top 2% of podcasts worldwide, reaching over 12,107 cities and captivating audiences in 150 countries and territories. Brad's dedication to keeping Western history alive is truly inspiring! For more information on the event contact Upland Ranch at [email protected]

Friday, November 1st: Visit Home of Stone from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M.

The Ford County Historical Society warmly invites you to explore the enchanting Home of Stone on Friday, November 1st, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Located at 112 E. Vine Street, this magnificent structure has been standing proud for over a century, having been built between 1879 and 1880 by the remarkable John Mueller—a St. Louis bootmaker with a keen vision.
A daring German immigrant, Mueller ventured from Missouri to the bustling frontier of Dodge City, where he didn't just survive, but thrived! He transformed himself into a cattle tycoon, amassing a stunning empire with three expansive ranches. Imagine the excitement as rail cars rolled into town, bringing not just cattle to Kansas City, but also exquisite Victorian furniture for his new home. The entire community came together to celebrate the grand housewarming in 1881, making it a moment to remember! But history took a turn when the devastating blizzard of 1886 struck, wreaking havoc on his cattle business. Coupled with the loss of his bootmaking shop to a fire, Mueller faced tough decisions and ultimately chose to return to his roots in St. Louis.  Don’t miss this opportunity to step into a part of history—join us at the Home of Stone!

Art Show November 1st & 2nd: Occident Saloon at Boot Hill Museum

Get ready for an incredible experience! From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the Boot Hill Museum, in collaboration with the International Chisholm Trail Association, will showcase the amazing talents of artists Stan Shook, Lori Jones, and Josh Roesener at the historic Occident Saloon. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in vibrant art displays during the conference on November 1st & 2nd. Be sure to stop by during your stay at the conference for a time of inspiration and creativity!

Video Sessions: Tell Your Stories about the Western Cattle Trail

The WCTA are encouraging conference attendies to come by the Mariah Gallery and share your stories about the Western Cattle Trail! Common Ground Capital is putting together a series of videos about the area, and they would love to hear the real history and experiences straight from you. Common Ground Capital delivers market-driven conservation solutions, partnering with landowners and industry to protect endangered species and restore critical habitats through innovative mitigation banking. 
Friday, November 1, 2024 at The New Boot Hill Museum
11:00 A.M. Free Trolley Ride of Dodge City Historical sites, Fort Dodge, & old fort sites (1 hour 15 min.) leaves from Visitors Center at Boot Hill Museum.
9:00 - 1:00 Special Invitation to visit the Home of Stone open Friday, November 1st, brought to you by the Ford County Historical Society.
BOOT HILL MUSEUM:
1:30 Welcome to the 150th Celebration of the of the WCT
  • President of the Western Cattle Trail Association, Michael R. Grauer
  • Unveiling of the 150th Commemorative Panel 
  • Miss Kitty Sings
  • Introduction of Special Guest
  • President Dennis Katzenmeier, International Chisholm Trail Association, History of the Chisholm Trail
  • Cowboy Poet Lariat, Ron Wilson Reads Western Cattle Trail
2:15 - 3:15 Mark Burns (Film Maker) & Michael R. Grauer (Historian)
  • Trailing Cattle from the King Ranch/South Texas
  • Filmed Interview with Bob Kinnan, King Ranch Historian
3:15 - 3:30 Break (Announcement of Special Conference Events)
3:30 - 4:00 Brad Smalley, Dodge City local historian 
  • “Adobe Walls to The Making of A Cowtown”
4:00 - 4:45 Ron Wilson, Legislative Chairman, ICTA, with guests
  • Consortium of Cattle Trails Discussion
5:00 - 7:30 Meet and Greet, for all guests at Boot Hill Museum
  • Heavy appetizers served, cash bar is available
  • Music by Tom Hawk
Saturday, November 2, 2024 at The New Boot Hill Museum
8:30 - 9:00 WELCOME: Michael R. Grauer and Dennis Katzenmeier
9:00 - 10:00 Dr. James N. Leiker, Professor and author of
  • "The Northern Cheyenne Exodus"
10:00 - 10:15  Break Water/Coffee Doughnuts
10:15 - 11:15 Gary and Margaret Kraisinger, Western Cattle Trail historians and authors of, “The Western, the Greatest Texas Cattle Trail, 1874-1886” and The Western Cattle Trail 1874-1897, its Rise, Collapse and Revival,” moderated by Michael R. Grauer
11:15 - 11:45 Ron Wilson
  • Legislation Update
11:45 - 12:15 BOX LUNCH
12:30 -  1:30 Dr. Michael Miller, professor and author of
  •  "XIT: A Story of Land, Cattle, and Capital in Texas and Montana"
1:30 - 2:30 Michael R. Grauer, McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture/Curator of Cowboy Collections and Western Art at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
  • ”Art of the Cattle Trail"
2:30-3:00 Michael R. Grauer and Dennis Katzenmeier hosting
  • International Chisholm Trail and Western Cattle Trail Meetings
  • Time to Tour Boot Hill Museum 
2:00-4:00 Open to Public Social Hour at Boot Hill Distillery
  • 4:00 - 5:30 Film Preview “Home on The Range” in the Boot Hill Museum Varieties Theater with a 30-minute panel discussion.
  • 6:00 KCHF Induction at the Boot Hill Casino & Resort Conference

Film Screening & Paneled Discussion of Home on the Range

​Don't miss the special film screening of "Home on the Range" at Boot Hill Museum on Saturday, November 2, following the Western Cattle Trail 150th Anniversary Conference. The film screening will begin at 4:00, followed by a panel discussion from 5:00-5:30 PM. The film tells the unforgettable story of the authorship, preservation, and legacy of the iconic song Home on the Range and the location where this "unofficial anthem" of the West was written in Smith County, KS. After the viewing, the film's director, Wichita native Ken Spurgeon, and the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mitch Holthus, along with Mitch's father and 2024 KCHF Inductee El Dean Holthus, will lead a Q & A about the film and its subject matter. Click Here to learn more about this event and sign up to attend the 2024 Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductee Ceremony. 
Home On the Range Screening and Panel Discussion to Shine Light on the Unofficial Anthem of The West.
“We are thrilled to bring Home on The Range to our community and facilitate an important conversation around the famous song. said Lyne Johnson, Executive Director. “This film challenges viewers to think critically, and we believe the discussion will inspire meaningful dialogue.”
Home on The Range is open  and free to the public and will help celebrate the 2024 inductees of the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame.  El Dean Holthus has been selected as this year’s Cowboy Historian and will be honored later the evening on November 2 at the Induction Ceremony taking place at Boot Hill Casino and Resort Conference Center at United Wireless Arena. Other inductees include Ernie Rodina-Cowboy Entertainer, Brad Tate-Rancher/Cattleman, Rex Bugbee- Rodeo Cowboy and Charles Albert Vest-Working Cowboy. Tickets to the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction are $35 each and can be purchased by calling the Museum or by visiting boothill.org

We look forward to welcoming film lovers and community members for an evening of film and conversation.  Do not miss this opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts and explore the deeper meanings behind the art of cinema.

Cowboy Hall of Fame Dinner & Ceremony

  • Doors Open: 6:00 PM
  • Dinner Starts at 6:30 PM Induction Ceremony to Follow
  • United Wireless Event Center 4100 W Comanche 
  • Tickets are $35 plus tax. Seating is limited.
  • Go to www.boothill.org or call Boot Hill Museum at 620-227-8188 to purchase tickets and reserve your spot. 

​Presenters for the WCTA 150-Year Celebration

The drovers are in the roundup for the Western Cattle Trail Association's 150-year celebration to be held in Dodge City, Kansas in November of 2024. We are proud to announce just a few of our committed presenters and topics of interest.
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