Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) has reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Chisholm National Historic Trail and the Western National Historic Trail. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
"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."
The earliest history of Wichita begins with Jesse Chisholm and J.R. Mead establishing trading posts at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers where Wichita stands today. The Chisholm and Western Trails played a critical role in trade, commerce, communication and transportation in the United States. Beyond the economic value the trails provided, it also reinforced the cowboy culture of the American West – creating a significant and recognizable way of life that has been depicted in countless books and movies.
In 2020, Rep. Estes and Sen. Moran were awarded the inaugural Robert L. Klemme Memorial Chisholm Trail Champion award by the International Chisholm Trail Association for their work on celebrating and promoting the trails' history and for working on the legislation introduced today.
Rep. Estes is joined by four of his House colleagues as original cosponsors: Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), Jake LaTurner (R-Kansas), Frank Lucas (R-Oklahoma) and Tracey Mann (R-Kansas).