Cultural History of Big Bend National Park

While Big Bend is famous for its natural resources and recreational opportunities, the park is also rich in cultural history. Native peoples lived in and/or passed through this area for thousands of years. Their presence is evidenced by pictographs and archeological sites. In more recent history (the last 500 years) Texas has been claimed by six different nations!

Today, you can drive your car along the same route that Comanche warriors once traveled (the Great Comanche War Trail), or you can visit the La Harmonia Store at Castolon where locals (and visitors) have shopped for eighty years. From archeological sites dating back nearly 10,000 years, to ranches and mining operations from the early 1900s, Big Bend can be a great place to "discover" history.

Click on the topics below to learn more about the cultural history of Big Bend.

house ruins Archeology