Lone Star Trails Podcast: Episode #121 – July 2025
Special Podcast Edition on Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North
Guest: Gary Pinkerton
Host: Emily Richardson
In this special edition of our podcast, we sit down with Gary Pinkerton, author of Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North. Although published in 2015, the book continues to resonate with historians, genealogists, and East Texas history enthusiasts drawn to the story of this early route into Texas.
Gary shares insights from his ten years of research into the meandering path of Trammel’s Trace and the intriguing historical figure Nicholas Trammel. While the exact reason the road bears Trammel’s name remains uncertain, there is no doubt that he and his family were closely tied to its use and development. Originally a smuggler’s trail, Trammel’s Trace played a significant role in early migration from Tennessee and Arkansas, offering valuable context for those tracing their ancestors’ journey into Texas during its earliest days.
Gary’s website offers a variety of free resources, including a downloadable map of Trammel’s Trace, along with information on how to order the book.