Anvil Park Ranch
Canadian, Hemphill County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Begun 1891 by blacksmith J. C. Studer who came from Kansas in 1886. His occupation inspired Anvil brand and name of ranch. Ran only purebred cattle after 1919. Drew top cattle buyers. Spread grew from two sections to 5,000 acres. Famous for annual professional rodeo 1918 to 1941. Attracted top cowboys from throughout nation. Many stars of rodeo world started here. As many as 8,000 visitors viewed 3-day performances. Ranch was sold 1951 to Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission for game breeding purposes. (1967)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Blacksmith J. C. Studer arrived from Kansas in 1886 and in 1891 began the Anvil Park Ranch, named for the tool of his trade and its distinctive brand. The spread grew from two sections to 5,000 acres of purebred cattle that drew top buyers, but it won its fame from the professional rodeo it hosted each year from 1918 to 1941. Drawing rising stars and as many as 8,000 spectators, the ranch became a Panhandle institution before its sale in 1951 for wildlife breeding.
Why it matters
The ranch reflects both the cattle economy that built the Texas Panhandle and the rise of rodeo as a beloved spectacle celebrating the skills of the working cowboy.
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Related people
- · J. C. Studer
Themes & tags
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