Many cowboys made their mark along this dusty old trail; bringing with them thousands of longhorn cattle to the Kansas railheads during the late 1800s. However, before it was a commercial trail, buffalo traveled upon it, then by Native Americans that followed the buffalo. The U.S. Army used the trail to travel between Texas and Kansas. Finally, in 1864, trader Jesse Chisholm blazed the trail that bore his name; Cowboys call it the ‘old Chisholm Trail’.
      Comfortably nestled alongside the Chisholm Trail is the city of Duncan, OK. You see, it began with William Duncan, a Scotsman, who brought his wife and family to the area after discovering that the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was extending its railroad line from Kansas to Texas. Then foreseeing a lucrative niche in the market, Duncan built a store to service train passengers that would be traveling through the area, as well as settlers. By the time the first train arrived in June of 1892 Duncan (named after the Scotsman) had found its identity on the edge of the western frontier.
       Duncan’s strength and rich heritage would not be what it is today without some early growing pains. Despite experiencing a severe tornado that nearly destroyed every store and building on Main Street in 1898, the city of Duncan also endured four fires in 1901 to the downtown area. Through it all, in the true sprit of Oklahoma, the residents forged on and the harden town continued to grow adding new businesses along the way. 
       Beside William Duncan is another “adventurous spirit” who left a legacy in Duncan, his name: Erle P. Halliburton, a young businessman who changed the oil industry by perfecting a method of cementing wells, thus making oil production much easier. He established the New Method Oil Well Cementing Company in 1919, and his method of oil production became very popular. Today, the company, now called Halliburton, has many offices throughout the world.
      Duncan is full of adventurous stories and innovated ideas waiting to be discovered. You can learn of these stories by visiting its many museums and historical sites. Probably the most inviting is the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center http://www.onthechisholmtrail.com/, or the Main Street Duncan Historic Stepping Stone http://www.mainstreetduncan.org. Here history buffs can enjoy the stories of Duncan from the Chisholm Traill to the present by reading the sidewalk stepping stones.
      In case you work up an appetite after trailing around town, the City of Duncan hosts a variety of foods to delight the pallet like Barbeque, Italian Bistro, American Diner, Mexican, Chinese, and a Tea Room. A full list of eateries can be found at http://www.duncanok.org/html/restaurants.html
      Looking for some recreation, Duncan also sports four area lakes for boating, fishing, and camping, as well as great 18-hole golf courses in the area. For more information visit http://www.duncanok.org/html/recreation.html
       Well, that’s all from Duncan, Oklahoma. So take part in a piece of western heritage by visiting Duncan. You never know, you may still hear the faint whistle of the Rock Island Railroad pushing through town or catch a glimpse of some dusty old cowboy making his way down the ‘old Chisholm trail’.

Famous People from Duncan, OK 

For more information regarding the city of Duncan please visit http://www.duncanok.org

Next Month: Edmond, Oklahoma