Support making the Chisholm Trail a National Historic Trail
Bob Klemme wants history to remember the Chisholm Trail, on which cattle were driven overland from Texas ranches to railheads in Kansas. He's made it one of his goals to see that Congress designates the route one of two cattle trails to become National Historic Trails, protecting what remains of them and preserving their historical significance.
The trails also are engrained in Oklahoma’s past. The Chisholm Trail ran from San Antonio to Enid and on to Caldwell, Wichita and Abilene in Kansas. The Great Western Trail ran from San Antonio north through western Oklahoma to Dodge City, Kan., and on to Nebraska.
A Congressional Feasibility Study was authorized in 2009 to evaluate the trail and it's sister, the Great Western Trail, assessing their suitability, feasibility and desirability for inclusion in the National Trails System. The draft study determined that both met the criteria and recommended they be so designated.
The NPS designation would be a lift to the state’s profile as a tourism destination and provide an economic boost. To that end, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism is distributing rack cards in several European countries.
After all material is examined, a recommendation will go to Congress for approval. In the meantime, a comment period for the public to voice its opinions on the proposals will continue through Friday, March 6.
All organizations and individuals interested in our local cattle-western history and heritage tourism should respond to the invitation for comment.
Unsure of what to say? Here are some suggested guidelines from Visit Enid
- I support Alternative B of the study. (Alternative B supports the historic designation, Alternative A takes no action)
- That you and your organization (if applicable) see great heritage and economic benefits to National Trail designations.
- Mention that you and your area have strong connections to one of the trails through museums, festivals, events, education programs, historic markers and history.
- Thank Congress for authorizing the study, and commend the National Park Service for its excellent and thorough study.
- You look forward to having Congress implement the National Trail Designations, which might be in time for the 150th Anniversary of the Chisholm Trail in 2017.
- - - - - -
DVD on Chisholm Trail Available
Guardian of the Chisholm Trail is a two-disc set, including a documentary DVD featuring Enid native and Chisholm Trail historian Bob Klemme. From the jacket cover, “This story unfolds in present day as Klemme shares his passion and knowledge about the Chisholm Trail and its stories with a family out on a Sunday drive. Historical reenactments of pieces of history along and about the Chisholm Trail include stories on the marrying tree, Pat Hennessey, Cowboy Monument and Skeleton Creek Ranch.”
The second disc is an audio travel guide CD with cowboy poetry, legends, maps to historic sites and more.
Klemme has dedicated his life to preserving the heritage of the region. His boyhood fascination with the historic Chisholm Trail led him to personally mark the exact path the trail took across Oklahoma. Klemme spent countless hours constructing and setting over 400 concrete markers that weighed approximately 200 pounds each, with his goal being to create interest in the Chisholm Trail and his hope is that some day it will become a National Historic Trail.
Visit Enid director Marcy Jarrett said it was easy to agree to sponsor this project.
“Bob Klemme has done so much to preserve Enid’s and Oklahoma’s history,” Jarrett said. “This DVD is our small contribution to help Bob achieve his goal of keeping the Chisholm Trail alive for future generations.”
Guardian of the Chisholm Trail is now available for $15 at the Enid Welcome Center and at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 S 4th.
