Denton: Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum

Commercial area with courthouse in the center
Unpaved road with storefronts including a saloon, meat market, and bookstore

Denton, 1870s. Note the meat market/book store combo. (Denton County Historical Commission)

Aerial view of commercial streets with a dry goods store, law office, and art gallery, and small neighborhood behind

Denton, 1889. Note the art gallery. (Denton County Historical Commission)

Herd of horses on a flat prairie

Remuda on the move. (Erwin E. Smith Collection, Amon Carter Museum or American Art)

Cowboy roping a horse out from the remuda (herd)

Roping out a mount from the remuda. (Erwin E. Smith Collection, Amon Carter Museum or American Art)

Cowboys driving horses across a scrub desert

“Chousing,” or driving the remuda (Erwin E. Smith Collection, Amon Carter Museum or American Art)

Four quarter horses

Horses on a Denton County ranch today.

Up to 10 million cattle went up the Chisholm Trail, but did you know 1 to 2 million horses also made the long journey north? Horses were so vital to the cattle drives that a sub-industry of horse drives became common. This heritage is on full display in and around Denton, which has one of the largest concentrations of horse farms in the U.S. and is known as the North Texas Horse Country. The Denton Convention and Visitors Bureau offers tours of some of the ranches, and self-guided tours or horseback riding are also available. 

The Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum, housed in the stately 1896 historic courthouse, recalls local history through a variety of exhibits including numerous artifacts from area ranches. 

Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum

  • Hours: Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Admission: None
  • 110 West Hickory St., Denton, TX
  • 940-349-2850
  • Visit Website
  • National Register of Historic Places
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