Pioneer Days, Christmas and more at CTOM

Oct. 17—The Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum lends something special to Cleburne and Johnson County, Cleburne Lion Jason Cech said in introducing CTOM Onsite Director Carrie Murdoch during Wednesday's weekly Cleburne Lions luncheon.

"It's such a unique gem in our community that no one else else but many communities wish they had," Czech said. "And I don't think we talk about it enough."

Certainly visitors local and beyond and the state of Texas have taken notice.

"Our museum is still ranked the number one overall outdoor museum in Texas," Murdoch said. "Also, we tracked visitors to the museum from Feb. 16 to July 30 by wrist bands and clickers and during that time 18,372 people visited the museum."

The museum, now in its 20th year, preserves and celebrates the history of Johnson County, pioneer days and the Chisholm Trail."

Johnson County's original courthouse, a stagecoach station, one-room schoolhouse, working blacksmith shop, the Big Bear Native American Museum and more occupy the museum's grounds on the banks of Lake Pat Cleburne.

"It's amazing," Johnson County Heritage Foundation Chairman David Murdoch said. "None of us had any thought this would be what it is today 20 years ago. We started out with just the courthouse and some teepees and then it seemed like every time we turned around we were adding another building."

The most recent addition being a historic former home and army outpost building that, now located to the CTOM grounds, houses a Civil War Museum on one side and a law enforcement museum on the other.

More is planned, Carrie Murdoch said.

New teepees for one, which should be in place soon.

Storms earlier this year destroyed the former teepees and damaged building roofs and trees. The trees were a loss, unfortunately, but roofs have been repaired and the new teepees, thanks to a donation, should arrive soon.

"The teepees have been so important to us all along," Carrie Murdoch said. "Because, no matter which direction you're coming into Cleburne from, those and the cattle drive silhouettes are the first thing people see from the road and the things that draw them into the museum."

Carrie Murdoch described the second soon-to-come attraction as icing on the cake.

That being a new museum with the mouthful of a name, The Douglas Harmon Chisholm Trail Artifact and Western Memorabilia Collection and Memorial Library.

"For those who don't know Mr. Harmon, he is the retired city manager of Fort Worth, the retired convention and visitors director of Fort Worth and is still on the executive board of directors for the state of Texas tourism."

Harmon, who also played a role in revitalization of the Fort Worth Stockyards, recently donated his lifetime collection of Chisholm Trail artifacts to the CTOM.

"This collection is off the charts," Carrie Murdoch said. "If nothing else was in Cleburne this collection would put Cleburne on the map. I'm talking movie star stuff to items from the 1800s. We have actual things from the Chisholm Trail and no other museum has it. In fact, I'll tell you what. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art is fuming mad right now because they couldn't get it."

The unveiling of the Harmon Museum is scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 10.

As the CTOM has grown so have event held there.

"We used to have Pioneer Days as our main event each year," Carrie Murdoch said. "Now we hold 15 major events each year including the largest Pow Wow in Texas and our Texas Independence Day celebration."

Pioneer Days returns 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 10-11.

What began as a potluck dinner surrounded by assorted events and attractions 20 years ago has now grown into a full-force annual Cleburne tradition, Carrie Murdoch said.

In addition to a petting zoo and entire Native American village, Pioneer Days includes wild west gun fights, Civil War camps, cowboy poets, historians, food trucks, trick ropers, canon firings and more.

"We'll also have parking onsite and at Hill College with free shuttle service," Carrie Murdoch said.

Pioneer Day tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and children.

Survival camps —teaching attendees how to start a fire without matches, filter water and other skills — continue as well.

Dec. 9-10 brings the return of Cowboy Christmas on the Trail.

"You ride around on a covered wagon visiting scenes of Christmas on the Chisholm Trail," Carrie Murdoch said.

Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children.

Tickets to CTOM on non-event days run $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and children.

CTOM is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

Volunteers donations and, oddly enough, mannequins are needed, Carrie Murdoch added.

Murdoch added that the museum is available for weddings, birthday parties, business events and other uses.

How now

Glen Rose has dinosaurs, Los Colinas horses so why not longhorns for Cleburne, Carrie Murdoch asked.

Through the museum's Longhorn Campaign the Murdochs hope to fill Cleburne and Johnson County with life-sized longhorn replicas.

The longhorns, two versions are available, weigh 175 pounds and measure 10 feet long, 6 feet wide and 6 feet high.

Seventy-five are available at a special rate of $3,500 each, which increases to $4,250 after Nov. 1.

The longhorns are perfect for homes or businesses, Carrie Murdoch said.

"They're easy keepers," Murdoch said. "You don't have to feed them and they won't jump fences or break through.

"They're really cool and amazing. They make for great photo ops in front of your business. People can get on top of them."

Purchased longhorns can also be displayed at CTOM with the buyer's name attached, Murdoch added.

To purchase a longhorn, learn more about CTOM events, donate or volunteer, visit jcchisholmtrail.com or call 254-998-0261.