Seminole Canyon State Park is located near the confluence of the Pecos and Rio Grande Rivers. As such, it is an area with rich history of both human and animal inhabitants going back to Prehistoric Times. Because we equate the Seminoles with Florida, the origin of the name is worth noting.

During the Trail of Tears era when the government was shamelessly relocating thousands of Native Americans far from their ancestral homelands, the Seminoles were brought by train to Oklahoma. Not allowed to return to Florida, many eventually moved on to the south and southwest creating new significant populations. This river valley became one such area.

Throughout the park there is evidence of the Southern Pacific Railroad coming through here in 1882. This baking oven being one of the more significant examples. And this stone culvert, which is about 130 years old, but doesn’t look a day over 50.

The original railroad bed is easily recognizable in some parts of the park. This route was abandoned after only ten years of use because advancements in the design and construction of bridges allowed for choosing more favorable routes.

There are many pictographs and petroglyphs throughout Seminole Canyon.  If you followed me on last years trip you know the difference between the two.  If not you can look it up or call me and ask me, I’d love to hear from you.  Hell, call me even if you do remember.  I have the time. 🙂

This sculpture at the visitors center is an aggregate of a number of the pictographs.  The art on these cavern walls spans an era of about 3200 years beginning in about 800 AD.

This petroglyph (hint) doesn’t look like much until you learn that the four corners correspond exactly to the four cardinal directions on the compass.  I checked it, it’s dead on.  How did they do that?

 

You know how I am about old wood.  I just can’t resist.  This mesquite tree is about 500 years old.  If you look closely, yes it is still living.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Pecos River only about a quarter of a mile from where it joins the Rio Grande.  Before Judge Roy Bean’s time, Roy lived not far from here in Langtry, they used to say, “There’s no law west of the Mississippi, and no God west of the Pecos.”  Little did they know.

Seminole Canyon State Park was the first place I actually encountered significant buggage.  I just made that a word if it’s not already.  And if you can’t figure it out, it means too many bugs.  Other than that it continues to amaze how great my fortunes have been on both of my trips.