The Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum in Cleburne

After the Civil War, northern markets eyed the longhorns of Texas. Cowboys and vaqueros drove five million cattle from Texas to Kansas on Jesse Chisholm’s trail in the latter half of 19^th century. The Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum in Cleburne relives this rich history. The museum complex stands on the historic route where the town of Wardville, Texas, once stood. Through the reconstructed town of Wardville, four specialty museums, and the life-sized cattle drive silhouettes and teepee that greet you at the entrance, the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum offers you an authentic look at the Old West.  

You’re welcome to explore the pristine grounds overlooking Lake Pat Cleburne on a self-guided or docent-led tour. As you do, you’ll walk among historic and carefully reproduced buildings that stand frozen in time. Wardville was Johnson County’s first county seat. The original log courthouse, built here in 1854, still stands. It is the oldest log courthouse in Texas and a testament to its skillful builders. Nearby, Wardville’s original jail doors hang in the reconstructed jail. Just imagine the horse thieves, bank robbers, and poker cheats they barred back in the day!

While the Wild West conjures up visions of poker games gone bad and a fearless sheriff sporting a shiny star, day-to-day life in Wardville is represented as well. Visit the Nolan River School, Judge Wren’s home, O’Neal’s Trading Post, and the recreated Wardville Cemetery. Take a moment to admire the fully restored stagecoach, as well, that’s parked outside the stage station and saloon. The coach was used in two early John Wayne westerns.

And speaking of 19^th century transportation, mule teams, rather than horses, often pulled stagecoaches back in the day. The historic mule barn safely sheltered fresh teams for the Johnson Stage Line in the mid-1800s. In fact, the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum so fully embodies the Old West that its blacksmith shop is manned by Kris Sandoval along with two other certified blacksmiths. They not only create and sell metalwork onsite but also teach blacksmithing. Along with his classes, you can jump into the 1850s with both feet in homesteading courses and chuckwagon cooking camps.

In addition to touring Wardville, you’ll find several museums on the grounds that take a deeper look at history. Head to the Douglas Harman Artifacts and Western Memorabilia Museum to discover more about the Chisholm Trail and the cowboy culture. It’s truly an 1800s time capsule chock full of treasures, including saddles, spurs, chaps, and branding irons. Near the lake and a fantastic birdwatching platform, the Terry Building houses two museums. One showcases the Texas Rangers while the other delves into the Civil War. The final museum is the Big Bear Native American Museum. Inside you’ll see an extraordinary collection of Native American artifacts collected and donated by the museum’s namesake, Leonard “Big Bear” Beal. The impressive museum shares over 13,000 years of history of the Indigenous Peoples in North America.

To experience present-day Native American culture, pay a visit to Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum for the annual pow wow in April. This is just one of the special events that bring the area’s history to life. Others include Texas’s Independence celebration in February, Pioneer Days in November, Cowboy Christmas on the Trail, and Winter Wonderland of Lights on the Trail.

For a full calendar of events and activities, and to plan your visit, check out the official website for the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum in Cleburne.