The Vaquero: The First American Cowboy (Traveling Exhibit)
October 11, 2024 to December 1, 2024
First American Cowboy from the Texas Lakes Trail.
THE VAQUERO: THE FIRST AMERICAN COWBOY: Long before the pilgrims set foot on this continent, Spain had colonies established in Mexico in an area known as the State of Coahuila, later to become the great State of Texas. Some of the Ranches known as Haciendas were larger than the New England States. The patrons of hacendados, as these land-owners were called, employed people of Spanish and Indian ancestry, know as Mestizos. These people became experts at handling large herds of cattle using their horsemanship and roping skills. They developed methods, tools and language, remaining in use today as a part of the present cattle industry. Words such as Chaps, Lariat, Rodeo, Dally and Mustang. These horsemen became known as VAQUEROS, a word which literally translated means ‘cowman’ and which we know now as COWBOY.