OCTOBER LUNCH & LEARN WEBINAR (Texas Archaeology Month)
Finding the remains of a trail that is hundreds of years old is not an easy task, but that is precisely what researcher Gary L. Pinkerton has sought to do. Trammel’s Trace was a former Caddo trail that was later used by early Anglo immigrants coming into Texas. Gary’s 2016 book, Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North, provides a history of that road and its namesake, Nicholas Trammell. In his years of researching the Trammel’s Trace and mapping its likely route, Gary has driven hundreds of miles of back roads, wandered down remains of abandoned logging roads, and followed survey notes from the Original Texas Land Surveys looking for physical evidence of the trail. His follow up work, Finding Trammel’s Trace: A Guide to Roads, Ruts, Trails, and Swales focuses on that process.
One of the few remaining swales that can be identified with certainty as part of Trammel’s Trace is located at the Trammel’s Trace crossing of the Sulphur River (near Maud in Northeast Texas) where Mark Epperson operated a Republic of Texas-era ferry. A recent proposal to raise the water level of Wright Patman Lake threatens to flood this archaeologically important site, which was included on the Most Endangered Places List in 2022.
As part of our monthly Lunch and Learn Member Webinar Series, Gary will present a webinar discussing his work finding the remains of the historic Trammel’s Trace trail with a focus on the area around Epperson’s Ferry.
HOW TO REGISTER
Preservation Texas members can register in their online Preservation Texas account portal. Once logged in, click “Webinar Registration” in the left sidebar menu. If you are not a current member, we’d love to have you join or renew!
If you are unable to attend, don't worry! Lunch & Learn webinars will be recorded and uploaded to your online Preservation Texas account portal where you can watch or re-watch them later.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Gary L. Pinkerton is an independent research and author who have published three books of history. A fourth about early contraband trade in East Texas is coming in March 2025. His education as a social worker and his career in human resources, combined with his innate curiosity, continue to fuel more detailed looks into all types of sources for historical research. Gary is the Managing Director of the Alliance for Texas History and is a fellow of the East Texas Historical Association.