If These Walls Could Talk…

Happy Monday! Here few close-ups I took this weekend at the National Ranching Heritage Center.

These homes, barns, storehouses, and dugouts tell the story of the settlers who built them and lived on the frontier, and were witness to the days when Texas was a no-man’s land.

If these walls could talk…

…they would tell stories of the time when Texas ruled by banditos and Indians.

They would tell stories of being shot by arrows and bullets….

…and the settlers that patched up the mud between the logs after hard rains.

If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of covered wagons, the pony express, and cowboys sleeping out in the open range.

They would tell stories of the very first barbed wire being unrolled across the plains.

If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of a time when women only had two outfits: one for every day and one for Sunday.

Two outfits.

If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of pioneer women, who were concerned about the roof falling in during the rain, cattle stepping in a hole and breaking an ankle, and Indian attacks.

If these fences could talk, they would tell stories of being delivered to the frontier on a train.

They would tell us of the women who ordered them out of a Sears & Roebuck catalog.

If these barn doors could talk…

…they would tell stories of cowboys rising before dawn and headed out to check fence line and count cattle. They would tell stories of cattle rustlers and horses and the smell of leather and manure.

If these trees could talk, they would tell about the prairie soils, wildfires, and passersby.

My family settled in Texas during this time, and as my boots clunked across the wood floors of these houses, I felt like I had stepped into their era.

If you like art, history, archaeology, cows, spurs, wranglers, air conditioning, the outdoors, or native plants, then you must visit the National Ranching Heritage Center. If you don’t like any of those things, I cannot help you.

More info: nrhc.ttu.edu