Cuero Online News | July 30, 2026

-The public is invited to explore a rugged and formative chapter of Western history at Victoria College’s Museum of the Coastal Bend, now hosting a temporary exhibit titled The Texas‑California Trail Drives 1849–1860. The exhibit is open today and will remain available through August 12. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free to all visitors. The museum is located at 2200 East Red River Street on the Victoria College campus.

A Gritty Journey Across the West

This compelling exhibit features sixteen paintings by Texas artist and historian Tom Jones (1920–2000). Jones’ work vividly captures the dust, danger, and determination of the historic cattle drives that stretched from Texas to California during the mid‑19th century.

The paintings were inspired by two surviving diaries kept by trail bosses during an 1857 cattle drive from San Antonio to San Diego. These firsthand accounts provided Jones with rare insight into the daily hardships of the trail—scarce water, harsh terrain, unpredictable weather, and the relentless responsibility of moving herds across hundreds of miles. The authenticity of these diaries gives each painting a documentary quality, grounding Jones’ art in lived experience rather than folklore.

The Artist Behind the History

Tom Jones, a San Antonio native and descendant of Republic‑era pioneers, devoted his career to preserving Texas history through art. His early work as a ranch hand shaped the Western themes that became central to his paintings. Known for meticulous detail and historical accuracy, Jones produced more than 400 paintings and sketches throughout his lifetime.

His work appears in Victoria, A 300 Year Sampler, and his hand‑carved Street of Ten Friends sign remains a familiar landmark welcoming visitors to Victoria’s historic downtown district.

A Partnership in Preservation

The exhibit is made possible through a loan from the J. A. White Family Goliad Center for Texas History, whose commitment to preserving regional heritage continues to support public education and cultural enrichment across South Texas.

A Free Opportunity to Step Into the Past

With free admission and convenient hours, the Museum of the Coastal Bend offers families, students, and history enthusiasts an accessible way to experience the grit and grandeur of the Texas‑California trail drives. Jones’ paintings serve as both art and historical record, inviting visitors to step into the dust and determination of a trail that helped shape the American West.