The Chihuahua Trail
A trail that leads through Mexico, New Mexico, and Texas
By Addison Sumbler
Mrs. Mullins' 5th Period
One of the greatest and most significant trails in Texas.
The Chihuahua trail was used for much more than just the basics. It goes beyond trading or cattle drives. This trail can be traced back to developing culture, fighting wars, and providing connections between different countries.
Details of the Chihuahua trail
The trail runs through Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico and is approximately 550 miles long. It was developed during the 18th and 19th centuries. An early expedition was led through the trail which was followed by many others. the Chihuahua Trail served several purposes. It was used for trade, cattle drives, transportation, fighting purposes, and much more. It has helped the development of Texas in many ways and is considered a National Historic Trail.
This sign is also an artifact stating that the Chihuahua Trail is a national historic trail.
Changes Over Time
The trail started out being used for New Mexico and Mexico for trading and transportation but was not used often. Soon it became useful for things such as cattle drives and trading with other territories. Later expeditions began to occur. Although the expeditions were rare they began to become more frequent. Soon after, the United States found the trail useful for trading with Mexico and consequently the New Mexicans' trading items experienced a drop in demand because the U.S. could offer items of equal or more value. After the United States stopped using the trail New Mexican dominance continued for trade and cattle drives. In the mid 1800s, a rebellion occurred and the citizens needed to evacuate over the Chihuahua Trail. Soon after the army marched through the trail which lead to a victory on their side. The trail has helped with many events and changed quite a bit over the time it was used.
Artifacts Related to the Chihuahua trail
Journals
Examples of this include George Rutledge Gibson's journal which he wrote about his personal experiences with the trail
Murals
Many drawings or paintings were created to describe the missions developed due to the Chihuahua trail
Maps
There are many maps that were hand drawn or made today with modern technology. The maps could have been used to travel the trail and find the pathways.
Books
Many books and journals were written about the trail.
Cattle Drive
Cattle drives were frequent on the Chihuahua trail.
Chihuahua City Cathedral
Chihuahua City Cathedral which overlooked the south end of the Chihuahua trail.
Mural
Cattle Trails
This is a hand drawn map of cattle trails that might have been used to navigate when on cattle drives.
Pictures
This picture may have been an example of cattle drives or trading expeditions. Both were a frequent job on the Chihuahua Trail.
Maps
This map is from 1844 and shows some of the territory surrounding and on the Chihuahua trail.
Bibliography
http://www.newmexicohistory.org/places/chihuahua-trail
http://www.desertusa.com/desert-trails/chihuahua-trail-1.html
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/730086627862380545
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/
https://historicalbytes.wordpress.com/tag/chihuahua-trail/
http://www.conservapedia.com/images/b/bb/Cattle_Trails.jpg
http://www.visitbatopilas.com/gallery/
http://www.wikiwand.com/de/Santa_Fe_Trail