Formation

The Historic Cattle Trails Consortium was formed in Dodge City, Kansas on November 1, 2024, with a joint letter in support of a Cattle Trails Consortium signed by representatives from the Chisholm Trail, the Great Western Trail, the Goodnight-Loving Trail, the Shawnee Trail, and the Western Trail.

They said, "We the undersigned believe the pre- and post-Civil War cattle trails were and are a vital and valuable part of American history. On these trails in the late 1800s, millions of longhorn cattle were moved by drovers on horseback hundreds of miles from south Texas to markets in the east, north, and west. Not only did this trade have a significant impact on the nation's economy, it served multiple purposes such as meeting consumer demand for beef, stocking ranches in northern ranges, and providing crucial supplies for Native American tribes. Furthermore, the exploits of the daring young riders along the trails gave rise to the American cowboy, an enduring and globally recognized icon of our nation's strength, courage, independence, and bravery."

See the full letter here.