Lamb: High Plains and Ranch History

Lamb County lies in the fertile landscape of the High Plains. The county is considered a leading cotton-producing area and continues to have a diverse agricultural and ranching economy. This heritage is also reflected in the history of its towns: water sources, livestock raising, trade routes, and community institutions tell of different chapters in the region’s past. If you’re looking for a hotel in Lamb, these themes can help you plan your interests for your stay.

Spring Lake, Ranch History, and Water

Spring Lake was a camp and water stop used extensively by Indigenous groups for buffalo hunting. Later, after the Capitol Syndicate acquired Spring Lake, it became the headquarters of the XIT Ranch’s largest division. The history of this place therefore brings together its earlier use as a camp and water stop and ranch administration in different periods.

Technical traces are also part of this history. In 1887, the Yellowhouse Division of the XIT Ranch built a 132-foot-tall windmill. Another important step for agriculture was the first irrigation well in Lamb County: in 1902, Ewing Halsell dug it by hand for crops, livestock, and household use. An irrigation ditch carried water for half a mile to the headquarters of Halsell’s “Mashed O” Ranch. The history of the well and the ditch highlights different aspects of water use.

Historic Routes Through Lamb County

Several historic routes show how trade and transportation shaped the region. The Comanchero Trail was one of several routes traders used to trade with Indigenous groups, especially the Comanche. Traces of Mackenzie’s Trail are also still known. These routes represent different historical connections.

At Rocky Ford Crossing, settlers built a gypsum road through the valley in 1926. It was intended to allow traffic even in wet weather. Geographically, Blackwater Draw runs diagonally through Lamb County. Five arrows on the Quanah Parker Trail mark sites in the county. If you plan to visit these installations, check their condition in person.

Museums and Glimpses of Everyday Life

At the Littlefield Lands/Duggan House Museum, visitors can explore the history of Littlefield and Lamb County. The Duggan House Museum’s “Radio Room” exhibit is dedicated to Jennings: it displays memorabilia from KVOW and Jennings’ formative years. If you’d like to visit this exhibit specifically, check the current exhibit information in advance.

The Sand Crawl Museum’s outdoor exhibits include windmills, agricultural equipment, a partially earth-sheltered house, and reproductions of Sand Crawl formations. This brings technical and everyday themes together with a portrayal of the local landscape. Along with the history presented at the Duggan House Museum, this offers a look at different areas of focus: the history of Littlefield and the county on one hand, and objects and features from agriculture and ranch life on the other.

Community and Public Buildings

Lamb County’s first courthouse was a nine-room frame building. It served until it burned down in 1922. The origins of religious communities are also tied to specific places: Lamb County’s first Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1903 in a farmhouse northeast of what later became Olton.

In Olton, the Union Church Bell commemorates another chapter in this history. The 950-pound steel bell was purchased shortly after the Union Church was built around 1909. The former ranch headquarters in Spade is a historic landmark. Those interested in Lamb can explore a range of historical themes: the county’s early institutions, church life, ranch history, and the development of agriculture.

During your stay in Lamb, you can choose among these highlights depending on whether you’re more interested in the history of the XIT Ranch, museums, or historic routes. These themes give the region a diverse character, although they don’t all describe the same place or type of visit.

Discover more destinations: Littlefield, Shelby County, Bastrop, Kenedy County, Donley County, Ward County, Harris, Hutchinson County.

For the statewide travel overview: Texas.