I confess that I am a travel marketer’s ideal customer, in that I am a sucker for any superlative traveling destination. No matter the site, whether it is the biggest, smallest, shortest, or ugliest, I am drawn like a moth to the flame of its alleged greatness.
The Frisco of yore was a prominent stop along the Shawnee trail, the principal route along which longhorn cattle were driven north to the railroad. The Bronze Cattle Statue pays homage to this period in history and its shaping of the land. And, it is the longest continuous statue collection in the United States. Sign me up.
The statues, including an idyllic campfire cowboy scene, ring a peaceful lake and continue about a quarter of a mile down the road. Each statue is unique depiction of the exalted longhorn cattle or their true grit wranglers. Along the path, sign posts annotate the details of history of the longhorn cattle drives, giving us an impromptu history lesson.
The length of the statue collection gave us an enjoyable walk and some moments to discuss the role of cowboys and cattle in the history of Texas. With interesting juxtaposition, the sculpture trail runs parallel to a major shopping center. But, if you concentrate the Old Navy and Super Target of the modern day Frisco fade into the distance and you can almost hear the lowing of the cattle and the calling of the cowboys from days gone by.
