World's First Rodeo

Pecos holds its place in rodeo history by a specific claim. The Handbook of Texas lists two of the earliest rodeos on record: Pecos in 1883, the first to give prizes, and Prescott, Arizona, in 1888, the first to charge admission. Deer Trail, in Colorado Territory, had held a bronco-busting contest on July 4, 1869. By the 1890s rodeo had become a spectator event across the West. The first indoor rodeo came at Fort Worth in 1917, and by the late 1920s the Madison Square Garden rodeo in New York often ran for thirty days.

What the plaque says

World's First Rodeo Held a block south of Pecos Courthouse, July 4, 1883. Started with claims of cattle outfits -- Lazy, Na and W Ranch -- that each had fastest steer ropers. Settlers in town for Fourth of July picnic were spectators. The prizes were blue ribbons cut by pocket knife from new dress of a 4-year-old girl in crowd. Best roper was Morg Livingston, of the Na. Trav Windham, Lazy Y was second. Other contestants: Fate Beard, Geo. Brookshire, John Chalk, Jeff Chism, Howard Collier, Jim Livingston, Jim Mannin, Henry Miller, Brawley Oates, Jim and Henry Slack, E. P. Stuckler. (1965)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Roy Orbison Museum — 31 mi
  A volunteer-run room in the oil town where Roy Orbison spent his high school years, opened on request, with a guitar he played and his tinted prescription sunglasses.

More markers nearby

• George R. Reeves — 0.9 mi
• First Christian Church — 0.9 mi
• First Baptist Church of Pecos City — 0.9 mi
• Reeves County — 1.1 mi