Horse Head Crossing on the Pecos River
Inscription
Here crossed the undated Comanche Trail from Llano Estacado to Mexico. In 1850 John R. Bartlett while surveying the Mexican boundary found the crossing marked by skulls of horses; hence the name "Horse Head". The Southern Overland Mail (Butterfield) route, St. Louis to San Francisco, 1858-1861, and the road west from Fort Concho crossed here.
The Goodnight-Loving trail, established in 1866 and trod by tens of thousands of Texas longhorns, came here and turned up the east bank of the Pecos for Fort Summer and into Colorado Erected by the State of Texas 1936
Location
Sources
More markers in Pecos
Fort Stockton Guard House
Founded in 1859, Fort Stockton was abandoned during the Civil War and reestablished in 1867, when this guard house was built.
Fort Stockton, C.S.A.
Ft. Stockton, TX
After federal evacuation at start of Civil War, occupied by 2nd Regiment Texas Mounted Rifles.
Horsehead Crossing
Girvin, TX
(2 miles NE) Famed ford of the Pecos River, named for abundance of horse and mule skulls lining the banks in the 19th century.
Pioneer Stagecoach Stand Operators Mr. and Mrs. Isaac J. Rude
Ft. Stockton, TX
On way to California from Tennessee in the 1850's Isaac J. and Sarah Isabella Rude settled in West Texas.
Sheffield
Sheffield, TX
Spanish explorers traveled Indian trails here in the Pecos River Valley as early as 1590.