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Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Texas Plains Trail Region

Map of Briscoe County Historic Sites

Topics (click on a topic to jump to that section).
Archeological Sites at MacKenzie Reservoir and Tule Canyon | Briscoe County | Briscoe County Jail | Crawford, Miner | Lake Theo - Folsom Bison Kill Site | Quitaque Ranch | Trading Area of Jose Tafoya and other Comancheros
Archeological Sites at MacKenzie Reservoir and Tule Canyon

Marker Title: Archeological Sites at MacKenzie Reservoir and Tule Canyon
County: Briscoe
Year Marker Erected: 1979
Marker Location: From Silverton, take SH 206 about 11 miles to roadside park; marker is located at overlook at entrance to recreation area.
Marker Text: Before this area was covered by Mackenzie Reservior, evidence of human occupancy was found at 77 recorded archeological sites. The earliest artifacts date back 10,000 years to a bison kill. Prehistoric occupancy is indicated by burial sites, shallow hearths, and stone tools. Gun flints, glass beads, and metal objects confirm 18th century European contact. By 1874 Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie's 4th Cavalry had driven the Indians from the Tule Canyon area which had been a lush grazing ground for buffalo and antelope. (1979) Incise in base: Marker Sponsor: Briscoe County Historical Commission - 1979

Briscoe County

Marker Title: Briscoe County
City: Silverton
County: Briscoe
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: At Courthouse Square, SH 207 in Silverton.
Marker Text: Formed from Bexar Territory; Created August 21, 1876; Organized March 15, 1892; Named for Andrew Briscoe 1810-1849; Defender of Texan liberty at the Battle of Concepcion, the Capture of Bexar and the Battle of San Jacinto; Chief Justice of Harris County; Silverton is the County Seat.

Briscoe County Jail

Marker Title: Briscoe County Jail
City: Silverton
County: Briscoe
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: At northeast corner of Courthouse Square, SH 207, Silverton.
Marker Text: Built 1894 of handcut stone hauled here by horse-drawn wagons from Tule Canyon. Early day sheriff's families rented it as residence.Lower floor was used by Red Cross workers, for sewing, during World War I. This jail stands as the lasting reminder of what courage and dedication mean in preserving law, order and integrity in Briscoe County. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1967

Miner Crawford

Marker Title: Miner Crawford (June 21, 1867 - November 17, 1928)
City: Silverton
County: Briscoe
Year Marker Erected: 1967
Marker Location: on north side of Courthouse Square, SH 207- Silverton.
Marker Text: Born in Benton County, Ark. In 1892, when Briscoe County was organized, won election as first sheriff; was reelected in 1894; also later served single terms, 1913-1914 and 1921-1922. First official act was arrest of two horse thieves from New Mexico; in last term he and two deputies waged a gun battle and captured a moonshine still. He bought law and order to area. Was recognized as "Bearing the Stamp of a Gentleman." Recorded, 1967

Lake Theo - Folsom Bison Kill Site

Marker Title: Lake Theo - Folsom Bison Kill Site
County: Briscoe
Year Marker Erected: 1978
Marker Location: At park entrance, take first right turn; continue on road about .7 mile to marker; road is only partially paved.
Marker Text: Stone tool fragments were discovered in 1965 and 1972 on the shores of Lake Theo, named for former landowner Theodore Geisler. Archeological testing in 1974 revealed a campsite and bison butchering and processing area dating back to the age of Folsom man, between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. Projectile points and scraping tools were found at a depth of four feet, along with over 500 bones from an extinct type of bison. Ponds in Holmes Canyon, now covered by Lake Theo, probably attracted prehistoric men to this area. (1978)

Quitaque Ranch

Marker Title: Quitaque Ranch
City: Quitaque
County: Briscoe
Year Marker Erected: 1936
Marker Location: Not located
Marker Text: Established by the Baker brothers in 1877; bought in 1880 for Mrs. Cornelia Adair by Charles Goodnigh. Together with the Palo Duro ranches it embraced more than one million acres acquired by Goodnight in 1887, later broken into smaller tracts. (not located)

Trading Area of Jose Tafoya and other Comancheros

Marker Title: Trading Area of Jose Tafoya and other Comancheros
County: Briscoe
Marker Location: Marker Missing
Marker Text: In Quitaque area, Comancheros (peddlers in Comanche domain) from New Mexico traded flour and other goods to Indians. The Barter (begun in1700's) reached peak in 1864-1868, when Apaches, Comanches and Kiowas rustled horses and thousands of cattle "Down in Texas", to use in trades. Jose Tafoya, who had wagons as well as pack mules, sold guns to Indians until U.S. Army caught and threatened to hang him in 1874 unless he enlisted as a frontier scout. There were many other Comancheros. Tafoya is an example of one who helped rid Texas of Indian marauders. (1969)

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