August 26 West of the Pecos Museum

From Balmorhea to Pecos, a distance of 40 miles for a temporary stay while awaiting a family weekend in Midland...

To fill the time, we chose West of the Pecos Museum as an air conditioned afternoon diversion from the
 100 + temperatures,

The Orient Hotel was built in 1896

The outside wall hosts the historical markers 

Emigrants Crossing

Spanish Explorers

Reeves County

Pecos Cantaloupes

First room in the Museum features animated bartender 

telling story of gunfight 

markers on the floor delineate where the bodies fell. 

Several old pianos and pump organs are housed in the Museum..  three floors of displays tell the history of Pecos Station, Pecos City, and finally simply Pecos. 

Because the Pecos River is a gorge with only three open spans permitting wagons and stock to ford the river within 30 miles, Pecos was a strategic location for commerce and transportation. 

In 1881, the Texas and Pacific Railroad connected the route between Fort Worth and El Paso. 

The boots, hats, and saddle room  was fascinating and outlines the history of rodeo said to have begun as a contest between area cowboys in 1883. 

Outside exhibits include a replica of Judge Roy Bean's Jersey Lilly Saloon from Langtry

and Clay Alison's grave, the gentleman gunfighter who "never killed anyone who didn't need killing"

and was originally buried in the Pioneer Cemetery on the northeast edge of town. 

Supposedly, he was killed when he fell off a hay wagon and was run over by the wheel. Supposition of his sobriety at the time is questionable. 

Headstones have been "effaced" by floods and sandstorms

Wooden crosses with no names mark unknown graves. 

The Clayton-Cooksey Monument testifies to the hard life faced by the early cowboys. Shootings and stampedes ended the lives of many a cowhand. 

Pecos, the Land West of the Pecos, just look beyond the surface and discover a world of history and wonderment.