Hysterical Journey to Historic Places

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FORT GRIFFIN

After the Civil War settlement in Texas flowed westward along the Butterfield Trail. It was the major westward thoroughfare. To protect the frontier the army also established forts along the trail. Fort Griffin was built in 1867 where the Butterfield Trail crossed the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. It became a crossroads destination when cattle drives began to head up to Kansas. The herds and drovers remained at Fort Griffin long enough to rest up, and take on enough water and grass to make the next river crossing. A “hell-on- wheels” community sprang up for the amusement of the drovers and the soldiers that became known as The Flats. It was destined to become the most wicked community in Texas or in Kansa, which probably made it the most wicked place on the planet. At the close of the Red River War in 1874 and depredation by the Comanche and Kiowa ceased the Sixth Cavalry moved on to better things. Railheads in Kansas shifted further east and southward to extend the shipping season and the cattle routes shifted away from The Flats While it lasted every tinhorn gambler, gun thug, .whore lady, and grifter in the west spread their version of the gospel there. Fort Griffin is now a state park, and is home to the State of Texas longhorn herd.

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Photos

STATE OF TEXAS LONGHORN HERD AT FORT GRIFFIN
They are kind of indifferent old cows.

THE MOST WICKED PLACE IN TEXAS
Shaunnesy's Saloon made more racket than the blacksmith shop next door to it.

CIVIL JAIL ON THE FLATS
One of the few permanent stone structures at Fort Griffin is the civilian jailhouse on The Flats

BILLY WILSON'S HOUSE ON THE FLATS
Billy was a notorious card cheat. He ended up in Arizona where he got himself killed during the Pleasant Valley War.