Riders of the Range:
The Roots of Ranching in Texas
October 1, 2025, through December 14, 2025
Long before the American cowboy became a cultural icon, ranching in Texas was shaped by the vaquero. This exhibit traces the origins of Texas ranching.
Texas ranching has deep roots that reach back to the Spanish colonial era. When cattle were introduced to the region in the 1600s, missions and settlements in the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso relied on herds for survival. The vaqueros perfected techniques that remain central to ranching today.
By the 18th century, vaqueros were indispensable, driving cattle, sustaining missions, and supporting the growth of new communities. Even after political upheaval and war disrupted Spanish control, their practices endured. Later Anglo settlers in the 1820s and 1830s adopted many of these skills, combining them with their own traditions and giving rise to the cowboy—a symbol now inseparable from Texas identity.
This exhibit presents artifacts from this pivotal era, including spurs, branding irons, lassos, and other tools of the trade. These objects bring to life the story of how vaqueros shaped Texas ranching and influenced the cowboy legacy.