Thanks to legislation introduced by U.S. representatives Frank Lucas of Oklahoma and Ron Estes of Kansas, the National Trails System Act may be amended to designate the Chisholm National Historic Trail and the Western National Historic Trail.

The Chisholm Trail was a series of trails that led ranchers from Texas to Kansas, crossing the Red River through current day Oklahoma.

The trail acquired its name from Jesse Chisholm, a Scotch-Cherokee trader and government interpreter, who established a trading post in what is now western Oklahoma City on a wagon road between trading posts in Wichita, Kan., and the Red River.

“As our country expanded westward, the Chisholm Trail and the Western Trail became critical lifelines for the people of the Great Plains. Cattle ranchers across Western Oklahoma have always played an integral part throughout Oklahoma’s history, establishing a number of local economies across the Plains through trade and transportation,” Lucas said.

“Designating these trails as historic trails will not only preserve the significance of these trails in Oklahoma and across the Great Plains, but it will also allow us to continue to educate future generations of Americans and provide countless economic opportunities across Oklahoma.”

According to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, more than 1.5 million head of Longhorn cattle were driven up the Chisholm Trail to Abilene from 1867 to 1871.

The trail crossed the Red River south of Duncan, led north through Indian Territory to Wichita, Kan., and on to the railway in Abilene.

It is estimated that more than 5 million Texas cattle were driven north to markets from 1866 to 1884, the majority over the Chisholm Trail.

Enid native, the late Bob Klemme, spent years petitioning for the national designation as well as donating seven years of his time, research and resources to install hundreds of concrete markers along Oklahoma’s portion of the Chisholm Trail, many of which are located in Kingfisher County.

“The effort to secure a national designation for the Great Western Trail and the Chisholm Trail has been in the works for a long time,” said John Gooden, longtime advocate of Kingfisher cultural development and sculptor of the Jesse Chisholm statue at the corner of U.S. 81 and S.H. 33.

“I learned of the effort in 2004 and have worked to position Kingfisher to be one of the pearls along a string of historic sites along the Chisholm Trail.

“The designation, if secured, will bring tourists and we will have the Visitors Center to welcome them and point them to the museum and other sites locally.”

In 2009 the National Park Service began a comprehensive study to determine the feasibility of designating the Chisholm Trail and Great Western Trail as national historic trails.

Upon completion of the study, it concluded the trails met criteria to be included as national historic trails and recommended their designation, which led to the current proposed legislation.

“When we think about advances that moved our country forward, the Chisholm and Western trails are two of those elements that helped shape the midwestern economy – with millions of cattle traveling through the Great Plains,” said Estes.

“Farmers and ranchers from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska have always been a critical part of this country and the cowboy culture that was evident on the Chisholm and Western trails are at the very heart of who we are as Americans – hard-working, rugged and independent.

“Designating these trails is more than just noting paths through the Great Plains, but showcasing the historical significance of the people who traveled the more than 1,300 miles through multiple states and their way of life.”

“It has been an ongoing effort for a number of years,” Chisholm Trail Museum Director Jason Harris said. “We are hopeful a national trail designation will help generate tourism and commerce along the trail much like Route 66 does.”

Lucas cosponsored similar legislation – the Chisholm National Historic and Western National Historic Trail Designation Act – in the 116th Congress.

Estes and Lucas are joined in their proposed legislation by representatives Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Jake La-Turner and Tracey Mann, both of Kansas.