Pecos County Historical Commission members and the Goodnight-Loving Trail Foundation announced plans for the third annual Horsehead Crossing Trails of Time Living History event on Oct. 28-29 at Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River. Last year’s event was given the Distinguished Service Award by the Texas Historical Commission, one of only three awards given statewide.

Re-enactors, chuckwagons, and artillery batteries from Fort Stockton, Waco, Midland, and Brownwood will be on hand to lend an air of authenticity to the weekend, while several chuckwagon crews will serve all visitors some real cowboy chow. The event is held to commemorate the various historical figures who passed over this well-known crossing throughout the 16th-19th centuries, including the conquistadors, the Comanche War Trail, the Emigrant Trail, the Butterfield Overland Stage and the Goodnight-Loving Trail, which was made famous by Larry McMurtry’s “Lonesome Dove.”

Unlike many historical sites in Texas, there are no structures standing at Horsehead Crossing. It was always a place that people passed through as they crossed the long stretch of desert to the next available water. The only permanent structure was erected in 1936 to honor the Texas Centennial.

Historian Tom Ashmore will once again lead presentations on the history of the site, and a raffle and silent auction to benefit the Goodnight-Loving Trail Foundation will be held. There will also be trail rides led by Shanna Wolf and Warren Oakley. Horsehead Crossing is located on the Pecos River off of FM 11 between Imperial and Girvin.At the request of the organizers, no political signs of any kind will be permitted. For more information contact Delane Cagle at 432-302-1106, or delanecc@ gmail. com, or Betty Damron at 432-693-7672 or bettydamron986@ yahoo. com. Details plus a map to Horsehead Crossing are available at pecoscountyhistoricalcommission. org/ horsehead- crossing- celebration.