Quanah Parker Trail Arrow

About the Trail

The Quanah Parker Trail Arrow arrived in Littlefield July 2, 2013 and was installed on the grounds south of the Veterans' Memorial, near the Ag and Community Center. 

Charles Smith of New Home built the 22-foot-long steel arrow in a workshop at his home. Smith is building the arrows that will be placed in all 52 counties in the Panhandle of West Texas that share a common heritage as having once been part of the "Comancheria", or territory occupied by the Comanche people prior to the 1860s.

Creating the Trail

A crowd of people gather at the arrow raising event

The idea of using the arrow as a physical marker to symbolize this shared heritage was presented to descendents of the Quanah Parker family, and received their approval. Smith volunteered to install arrows in counties of the Texas Plains Trail Region (TPTR) that have researched and expressed the desire to acknowledge and promote their historical connections to the presence of the famous last Comanche chief, Quanah Parker, and the Comanche people who once crossed their land.

Area Significance

The historical connection for Lamb County and the whole project area, is that this was the last area in the lower 48 states where there were Native Americans roaming freely. The Comanche tribe was the last to go to a reservation. 

Follow the Arrows

Today travelers can "follow the arrows," to learn and see part of the country inhabited and roamed by this leader, his family, and his people, all across the high and rolling plains, and canyon lands in the panhandle of West Texas. Smith is looking forward to helping people understand the American Indians.