Hennessey and the History of the Chisholm Trail

Hennessey is located on the historic Chisholm Trail. The town’s history spans the Great Land Run of 1889, memorial sites, and former supply stations along the trail. There is also an annual wine and chocolate festival and a golf course with clearly stated playing details. During your stay, you can choose between local history, an event, and sporting activities.

Chisholm Trail and Bull Foot Park

In Hennessey, Highway 81 was built on the Chisholm Trail, not parallel to it. The trail is also the point of reference for Bull Foot Park: it is located on the Chisholm Trail, and an accessible walking path leads visitors onto the trail. The park also features a cattle drive sculpture. Together, the path and artwork highlight two aspects of the trail’s history.

Bull Foot Station was a supply point on the Chisholm Trail, known for its well used by cattle drivers. Another roadside attraction is Oklahoma's Largest Cowboy Hat on Highway 81 in Hennessey. Those interested in the historic route will find both a connection to the trail itself and places that highlight different aspects of its history.

Memorial Sites and Local History

Pat Hennessey Memorial Park is located at the intersection of Iowa Street and Arapaho Street and commemorates the death of Pat Hennessey. The Roy Cashion Memorial Statue stands in Memorial Park, west of Highway 81 in Hennessey. Roy V. Cashion served in the 1st Oklahoma Volunteer U.S. Cavalry and was killed on July 1, 1898, during the attack on San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War.

The History Center at Hennessey preserves the story of the Great Land Run of 1889 through letters, photographs, and artifacts from the region north of the Cimarron River. The Hennessey Public Library offers free tourist information and a walking tour of downtown. Personal keepsakes and a walking tour thus complement the outdoor memorial sites with additional ways to explore the town’s history.

Historic Buildings and Downtown

The Farmers Co-op Elevator is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It consists of four cylindrical silos, up to 110 feet tall. In 1942, the elevator was considered one of the most modern concrete grain storage facilities in the country. The Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Hennessey also has a notable place in local history: it is the oldest bank-dedicated commercial building in Kingfisher County.

The Historic Ranch Room was built in June 1893; memorabilia from Hennessey High School is displayed there. Prairie Quilt is located in the historic downtown and covers more than 10,000 square feet. Together, these places offer different points of interest for anyone interested in Hennessey’s architectural and local history.

Festival, Wine Tastings, and Golf

The Hennessey Wine & Chocolate Festival takes place annually. Regional wineries and amateur winemakers offer wine tastings there, while chocolatiers from across Oklahoma give samples to the public.

Vernost Wine Co. offers wine tastings at the Historic Ranch Room on weekends. It also occasionally hosts live music with local artists on weekends. For a different activity, consider Turkey Creek Golf Course: the course has 18 holes, an approximate length of 6,400 yards, and a par of 70.

Discover more destinations: Cashion

For the main travel overview: Kingfisher.