GREAT SPANISH ROAD Near course of the Canadian River, early as days of the American Revolution, men from Santa Fe went past this spot on trips to meet traders from San Augustine, Nacogdoches, and other Spanish towns of East Texas. In 1786, Pedro Vial was commissioned by the Spanish Governor at Santa Fe to establish this route, and secure direct connection from Santa Fe to San Antonio, Texas, with access to East Texas towns. The Great Spanish Road served well colonial Texas and foreshadowed 20th century usage of the route for a segment of a great intercontinental highway. * * * * * * * FIRST RANCH IN POTTER COUNTY Established 1877 at point 1 1/2 miles east of this site, by Bates and Beals, northern investors. Ran the LX Brand, and once had a cowboy named Will Rogers--later internationally famous as a humorist. * * * * * * * FIRST STORE IN POTTER COUNTY Opened 1878 a few hundred feet west of this marker, by William Pitcher, whose name was given to nearby creek, and who figured in a desperate robbery from which LX cowhands rescued him. (1965)
Great Spanish Road_First Ranch in Potter County_First Store in Potter County
The roadside stories worth pulling over for.
Great Spanish Road_First Ranch in Potter County_First Store in Potter County is a historical marker in Amarillo, Potter County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 49 historical markers documented in Potter County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 73 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 35.4781, -101.8818 near Amarillo. The nearest cataloged historic site is The Canadian River (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include The United States Topographical Engineers in the High Plains of Texas, First Cemetery in Potter County, and LX Ranch Cemetery.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5375002265. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
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