Greetings from Trinidad, Colorado! Day one marks the end of a long, beautiful, and tire-spinning first leg of a 2,500-mile journey. Over the next ten days, I’m helping my friend Penelope and her pup Lexie pack up their lives and make the big move to Seattle, Washington.
Anyone who has driven across West Texas knows that the horizon stretches out forever. It’s a test of endurance—but we decided to turn it into an art-hunting adventure. Instead of rushing through the emptiness, we broke up the drive by tracking down the vibrant, unexpected public art installations that call west Texas prairie home. Turning the trip into a hunt for art in the wild made the miles fly by and reminded us that inspiration is absolutely everywhere if you’re willing to take the exit.
Our very first stop was a deeply personal one for me: a detour into Bowie, Texas to see the famous giant Bowie knife. As a proud Volunteer from Arlington’s “old” Bowie High School(IYKYK), this stop was near and dear to my heart.
This absolute beast of a sculpture stands over 20 feet tall and weighs thousands of pounds. It was installed back in the spring of 2016 and has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the single largest Bowie knife on the planet. Seeing it up close was the fun way to kick off our trip.
Here’s a question for you all: Do you view a giant monument like this as a legitimate piece of public art, or is it strictly a classic roadside attraction? Or maybe it’s a bit of both? Either way, it was fun to see in person! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Next up on the route was Quanah, Texas, to view The Last Comanche Chief. In a town that looks a bit worse for wear, this mural stands out as a bright spot. Painted in 2022 by Quanah Parker Burgess—a direct descendant of the Chief—this artwork brings the whole street to life. The background is filled with a dynamic sky and rolling clouds, creating a powerful setting for the Chief as he rides straight toward you. It’s an incredible mixture of public art and deep family heritage.
Our final destination for the day was Amarillo, where we actually made a double-feature stop.
First up was Slug Bug Ranch. To be completely honest, it feels like a knock-off of its more famous cousin, and it just fell flat for me. The real show in Amarillo is, of course, the legendary Cadillac Ranch.
Created back in 1974 by the San Francisco art collective Ant Farm and funded by local eccentric Stanley Marsh 3, this is public art at its absolute finest because it invites you in and demands that you interact with it.
Don’t worry if you forgot to bring your own spray paint—there are always half-empty cans laying around.
With our spray-painting hands clean, we tackled the last leg of the day: cruising out through the Texas Panhandle, navigating the scenic climb around Raton Pass, New Mexico, and finally rolling into Trinidad, Colorado to catch some sleep.
We can’t wait to show you what’s next. See you tomorrow for some fun and exciting Colorado art!