Cattle Trails – Statement of Significance

In the article “Cattle Trails – Statement of Significance,” authored by Frank Norris, NTIR (NPS) Historian, both "Western Trail" and "Great Western Trail" are used to refer to the cattle trail leading to Dodge City, Kansas. The document initially introduces the route as the "Western Trail," identifying it as one of three trails studied by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation [1]. Subsequently, it refers to the trail as the "Dodge City Trail" or the "Western Trail" and explains the emergence of the alternative name: beginning in the 1960s, a Texas historian designated it the Great Western Trail, and since 2000, trail advocates have increasingly adopted this term [1]. The author also employs "Great Western Trail" to align with terminology found in relevant legislation, such as the Chisholm and Great Western Cattle Trails Act of 2005 and the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, which prompted the report [1].
The following explanation of terminology usage is based on the referenced document [1]:

• Original and Common Names: The route from San Antonio, Texas, to Dodge City, Kansas, was first studied by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) in 1975 as the Western Trail (Page 1). Other historical references include the "Dodge City Trail" and the Western Trail (Page 13).
• Change in Terminology: The author observes that, beginning in the 1960s, a Texas historian named the route the Great Western Trail, and since 2000, trail advocates have increasingly adopted this term (Page 13).
• Political and Legislative Influence: The adoption of the term "Great Western Trail" is closely linked to recent legislative initiatives aimed at designating the trail as a National Historic Trail. In 2005, legislation was introduced to designate both the Chisholm Trail and the Great Western Trail as National Historic Trails (Page 2).

The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 mandated a study of both the Chisholm Trail and the Great Western Trail (Pages 2, 6, 20). The author notes that the National Park Service conducted this study in direct response to the requirements of the public law (Pages 2, 6). The document’s initial summary of findings recommends establishing the "Cattle Trails National Historic Trail," which would include both the Chisholm Trail and the Great Western Trail, as specified in Section 5303 of the 2009 omnibus parks bill (Page 4).

Conclusion on Political Influence: The author employs the names according to their contextual relevance: "Western Trail" is used for historical references, while "Great Western Trail" aligns with terminology specified in recent congressional legislation (P.L. 111-11, Section 5303 of the 2009 omnibus parks bill) that initiated the current study (Pages 4, 6, 20). Thus, the use of "Great Western Trail" directly reflects compliance with the legislative language.

Courtesy of Duane Hall. Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.

Frank Norris’s analysis and related National Park Service feasibility studies identify two primary factors driving the name change:

1. Academic Formalization: During its period of use (1874–1886), the trail was referred to as the "Western Trail" or the "Dodge City Trail," with the term "Great" absent from 19th-century records. Historian Jimmy M. Skaggs popularized the term “Great Western Cattle Trail” in his 1965 Master’s thesis, which the U.S. government later recognized as the first major historical reference to the "Great Western" title, thereby establishing an academic basis for the new name. (The Western Cattle Trail: How the 19th Century's Greatest Highway of Commerce Was Lost in a 20th Century Myth, 2023)
2. Advocacy and Branding: The 2005 legislative change was significantly influenced by the Great Western Cattle Trail Association (GWCTA), established in the early 2000s by advocates. The association promoted the "Great Western" name to distinguish the trail and provide it with a more prominent, standardized identity, similar to the "Chisholm Trail," as part of their campaign for National Historic Trail designation. (H.R. 2512 | U.S. Department of the Interior, 2021)

In summary, the name was changed in 2005 to reflect the modern historical nomenclature established by Jimmy Skaggs and the branding initiatives of the Great Western Cattle Trail Association, both of which aimed to secure a more distinguished title for the trail’s inclusion in the National Trails System. (Chisholm and Great Western Cattle Trails Act of 2005, 2005) 

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The Trail Drivers of Texas

The document, titled The Trail Drivers of Texas, is a compilation of sketches and narratives about early cowboys and their experiences on the range and trail. It was compiled and edited by J. Marvin Hunter and published in 1920 under the direction of George W. Saunders, President of The Old Trail Drivers Association. The phrase "Great Western Trail" is not mentioned in the document. The document mentions the "Western trail", the "Old Chisholm Trail", the "Goodnight or the Goodnight & Loving Trail", the "McCoy Trail", the "Old Fort Arbuckle Trail", the "Old Military trails", the "Sedalia trail", the "Old Fremont Trail", the "Old Chisholm Cow Trail", and the "Old Chisholm Trail".

The Old Trail Drivers’ Association (Download Document)
The Old Trail Drivers’ Association was organized on February 15, 1915, in San Antonio to preserve Texas history and honor the memory of trail drivers and pioneers. Membership was open to those who drove cattle or horses on the Trail between 1865 and 1896, with eligibility later extended to their sons in 1916. The association actively preserved history through a variety of activities, including organizing annual reunions, publishing narratives and recollections of trail drivers, and advocating for the erection of monuments to commemorate significant trail-driving sites.
The association grew rapidly, reaching 375 members by its first annual convention in Houston (March 1916) and 488 members by its second reunion in San Antonio (July 1917). Membership verification was conducted by presenting documentation or testimonials confirming the individual's participation in trail-driving activities. This process ensured the authenticity of the members' affiliations with the historical trail drives. After a two-year pause during World War I, the association resumed meetings in September 1919.
The trail driving era began after the Civil War, when Texas cattlemen needed markets for their herds. Starting around 1867-1868, cattle were driven north to Abilene, Kansas, along what became known as the Chisholm Trail, named after Cherokee cattle trader John Chisholm. This trail ran from San Antonio, Texas, to Abilene, Kansas, and the era concluded in 1895. Other major trails included the Goodnight-Loving Trail, which extended from Texas to Wyoming, helping to establish cattle ranching in the American West. Another significant route was the Western Trail that spanned from Texas to Nebraska, further illustrating the expansive reach of cattle drives during this period.

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