XIT History in Art

For those of you who may not know, Buffalo Springs Ranch is so named because it's centered around a series of natural springs called Buffalo Springs. It is historic because for centuries it has been a gathering place for everyone from indians to cowboys to buffalo hunters. It is rumored Kit Carson camped here. Toward the end of the 19th century it was the first headquarters of the famous XIT Ranch which was once the largest ranch in the world at 3 million acres. You can read more about the XIT Ranch history here.

Here are some pictures of the interesting features around the ranch.
This is a cookhouse. You can see in the front there is one door that swings in and one that swings out. That way cowboys could go in one door and out the other as they were filling their plates.
Here are the old XIT barns and corrals. Kind of falling down now, but you can picture it.
This is the original XIT house.
The house again.

This is a monument erected on the ranch, right next to our house.

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Now, in Dalhart there is an XIT Museum and they commissioned artist M.S. Franco to paint an acrylic picture of Buffalo Springs. Last night we attended the unveiling of the painting at the museum during the XIT Rodeo and Reunion in Dalhart. You can view the picture on Franco's web site here.

It was interesting to be a young couple amongst many old-timers who were excited to see the painting. It reminded me of how lucky we are to live and work on such a historic and beautiful place which is a legendary landmark among older generations around here.