Quanah Parker Trail Giant Arrow Installations

The Quanah Parker Trail Giant Arrow Installation project is expected to enhance regional tourism and to commemorate the history of West Texas as the last place in the continental where Native Americans lived free. More information about the Quanah Parker Trail Project can be found at the the official web site. This web page contains brief recaps of some of the installation events by Tai Kreidler, our Executive Director. Many of the events have been attended by members of the WTHA.

Pictured is the arrow's artist, Charles Smith, with the Potter County arrow that was installed at Mary Emeny's Wild Cat Bluff Wildlife Center. The specially fabricated tip is different from the other arrows, in order to fit the steel sleeve already installed at the center. A quiver of arrows wait at the ready for the next counties.

Photographs of the arrow installations at Abernathy, Blanco Canyon, Borger, Channing, Floyd County, Lubbock, Plains, Spur, Sudan and Swisher are below.

Tai Kreidler, along with a few other WTHAers, attended the installation of the Quanah Parker Trail Giant Arrows at Tulia, Borger and Canyon on June 15, 2012. The events were scheduled as follows: 1) Tulia, at 9 a.m. - Arrow near to pony kill site and entrance to Tule Canyon--17 mi. E on SH 86: Directions: from Tulia, take SH 86 East about 17 miles to the TX Historical Marker site near county line on South side of highway; 2) Borger, TX at 10:30 a.m. - Arrow next to Hutchinson County Museum, Hutchinson County Museum, 618 N. Main St.,Borger, TX 79007; and 3) Randall at 2:00 p.m. - Arrow on private land near to entrance Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Hwy 217, 11.5 miles East of Canyon, TX; or ½ mi West of the entrance to Palo Duro State Park; location is on South side of Hwy 217 in Canyon, TX 79015. [Click here to view photos from this event]

In addition, a Texas Tech University photography class has taken inspiration from the Quanah Parker Trail project and created a video that can be seen at http://vimeo.com/66767863. The project operates under the auspices of the Texas Plains Trail Region—Barbara Brannon, Executive Director, and in cooperation with the West Texas Historical Association and the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library.

Installation in Abernathy, Hale County, Texas

The Quanah Parker Trail arrow commemorating the Comanche connection to the city of Abernathy in Hale County, Texas, was installed following their 2013 4th of July parade. Guests of honor invited by the city of Abernathy for the QPT arrow dedication ceremony included descendants of Quanah Parker and his third wife, Aerwuthtakeum. Quanah and Aerwuthtakeum Parker's great granddaughter Jena Parker, with her son T. J. Parker and her daughter, Jessica Stone, accompanied by Tyler Wilbanks, attended the parade and dedication ceremony. It was a great pleasure to meet them! The City of Abernathy had discovered during the process of securing its place on the QPT, that all along, one of Quanah Parker's descendants had been living as a resident of Abernathy -- in its very midst -- all this time! And so it came to pass that Jessica Parker eloquently represented her family by speaking at the dedication ceremony. Mike Cypert of the City Manager's office invited as well members of the West Texas Native American Association, who graciously offered to provide a traditional Native American blessing of the QPT arrow for the dedication ceremony. Texas Plains Trail Region (TPTR) executive director Barbara Brannon and TPTR intern Beth Mitchell, a resident of Abernathy, had informed city officials earlier this year that the Handbook of Texas online mentions Abernathy as being sited near to Blackwater Draw, a water trailway followed by the Comanches in their travels on the Comanche Trail across Texas. Recap and photographs by Holle Humphries.

Captions: 1) QPT arrow in Pocket Park, 2) Abernathy QPT granite marker, 3) Barbara Brannon with grandson Levi, 4) West Texas Native American Association gathers for a blessing, 5) Mike Cypert and Holle Humphries, 6-7) QPT arrow in Pocket Park, and 8-9) Holle Humphries and Jessica Stone.

Installation in Blanco Canyon, Floyd County, Texas

The Quanah Parker Trail arrow commemorating the Comanche connection to Blanco Canyon in Floyd County, Texas, was installed on November 20, 2012, with attendees on hand from Floydada, Floyd County, Lubbock and Lubbock County. Attendees included the arrow artist Charles Smith, board members of the Texas Plains Trail Region (Karl Rivers and Holle Humphries), representatives from Plains Baptist Assembly (arrow location owner), members of the museum board, two members of the Quanah Parker Trail steering committee, and members of the Floyd County Historical Commission. Photographs by Holle Humphries.

Installation in Borger, Texas

Borger, Texas, received its Quanah Parker Trail arrow on October 5, 2012 adjacent to the museum in the downtown area. The event coincided with the Adobe Walls Trek the next day that featured numerous speakers including Alvin Linn, Paul Carlson and Holle Humphries. Below are images from the dedication and one of Ada Lester of Wheeler County who is showing one of the recently published brochures of the Red River War. Ada secured a grant to publish the THC guide that heretofore had not been printed and distributed. For the first time the Texas Plains Trail region has a beautiful and informative tourism guide explaining the historic and significant Red River War. If you are interested in obtaining copies of the brochure please contact Deborah Sue McDonald, the Executive Director of the Texas Plains Trail Region at txplainstrail@yahoo.com or Ada Lester of the Wheeler County Historical Commission at allester@windstream.net.

Congratulations to Lynn Hopkins and all our friends in Hutchinson County for the dedication and their newly installed granite marker.

Installation in Channing, Texas

Photographs by Holle Humphries.

Installation in Lubbock, Texas

Several members of WTHA attended the Quanah Parker Trail Giant Arrow installation on July 12, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. at the entrance way gate to the American Museum of Agriculture, located at 1501 Canyon Lake Drive in Lubbock, Texas. Those in attendance included Delores Moser, Robert Hall, Lynn Whitfield, Randy Vance, Emerson Tucker, Sally Murray, Monte Monroe, Holle Humphries, and Tai Kreidler. Henry Crawford, Randy Vance, and Tai Kreidler help erect the arrow before pouring in the concrete and water needed to stabilize the arrow. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal ran a story with additional photographs under the headline "Arrows Still Falling in Comanche Battle with Buffalo Hunters." Photos below by Lynn Whitfield.

Installation in Plains, Texas

Installation in Rocky Ford, Texas

Photographs by Holle Humphries.

Installation in Spur, Texas

The Quanah Parker Trail Arrow dedication in Spur, Texas, was held on July 31, 2012. The photographs below include images not only of the dedication but of the reception-brunch sponsored by Dairy Queen and Doris Richeson that highlighted the Quanah Parker exhibit curated by Emily Nash Long.

Installation in Sudan, Texas

The Quanah Parker Trail Arrow dedication in Sudan, Texas, was held on July 2, 2013. Note the historic water trough that was last used for cattle drives in 1920. It is a “book end” of sorts for the preserved and repurposed watering trough that used to be in the courthouse square that has been moved in front of the new Wheeler County Museum in Wheeler, Texas. Photograph from Tai Kreidler.

Installation in Swisher, Texas

The 4th Quanah Parker Trail Arrow dedication for Swisher County, Texas, was held in July, 2012. Pictured include Quanah Parker's robe, author Bill Neeley giving a presentation about Parker, Marisue Potts, and Glen Leming giving a blessing. Photographs from Tai Kreidler.