Museum of South Texas History
Tropical Trail Region
The original Texas cowboys were not American settlers, but Spanish. As American settlers moved onto the land in the early 1800s, Spanish practices like open-range ranching and branding continued in most places, and many longhorns were rounded up and driven up the cattle trails. The Museum of South Texas History features expansive exhibits dedicated to the history of cattle ranching and cattle drives in South Texas – beginning with Spanish settlement of the area.