Barbed Wire
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Marker Inscription
At first called "Devil's Rope" by cowboys, barbed wire was patented in 1873 but found little favor with Texas cattlemen until the late 1870s, when its use and practicality were shown in a sensational demonstration here in San Antonio. Its showman-sponsor was John Ware Gates (1855-1911), who came here as agent for a pioneer wire manufacturer. With permission from city officials, he built a barbed wire corral on the Military Plaza, then went into various resorts of cattlemen and boasted of its strength and economy. Some of the ranchers made bets that the wire would not hold wild cattle. While the scoffers looked on, some longhorns where turned into the corral and prodded to frenzy by burning torches. They charged the fence furiously, but the wire held. The experiment was such a success that for a long time orders exceeded the supply of barbed wire. In later life known as "bet-a-million" Gates, the agent founded or organized several wire and steel plants. About 1901 he also invested in Spindletop oil field and helped develop the city of Port Arthur, Texas. With its sister utility, the windmill, barbed wire led to upgrading of beef cattle and enhancement of nutrition and the quality of human life. (1971)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Cowboys called it "Devil's Rope," and Texas cattlemen wanted nothing to do with barbed wire until a showman named John Ware Gates staged a dramatic proof on San Antonio's Military Plaza in the late 1870s. He penned frenzied longhorns behind a barbed-wire corral, prodded them with torches, and watched the flimsy-looking fence hold as skeptics lost their bets. Orders soon outran supply, and Gates went on to build wire and steel plants and to invest in the Spindletop oil boom.
Why it matters
Barbed wire ended the open range and remade the American West, turning boundless grassland into fenced property — one of the quiet inventions that reshaped a continent.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Spanish Governor's Palacenearby
- Centro de Artes0.2 mi away
- Artpace0.4 mi away · 445 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, TX
- Briscoe Western Art Museum0.4 mi away · 210 West Market Street
- Buckhorn Saloon and Museum0.4 mi away
- Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks0.5 mi away
Attractions
- Casa Navarro State Historical Site0.1 mi away
- River boat boarding0.3 mi away
- La Villita0.4 mi away
- River boat boarding0.4 mi away
- Sea Life Aquarium0.6 mi away · 849 East Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX
- Yanaguana Garden0.6 mi away
Food & drink
- Paesanos Riverwalk0.4 mi away · 111 Crockett Way, San Antonio, TX
- Saltgrass Steak House0.4 mi away
- Landry's Seafood House0.4 mi away · 517 North Presa Street, San Antonio, TX
- Texas de Brazil0.4 mi away · 313 East Houston Street, San Antonio
- The Original Mexican Restaurant0.4 mi away
- Mad Dogs British Pub0.4 mi away · 123 Losoya Street
Places to stay
- Holiday Inn Riverwalk0.2 mi away · 217 North Saint Mary's Street, San Antonio, TX
- The Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio0.3 mi away · 420 West Market Street, San Antonio
- Mokara Hotel and Spa0.3 mi away · 212 West Crockett Street, San Antonio, TX
- Omni La Mansión del Rio0.3 mi away · 112 College Street, San Antonio
- Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio0.3 mi away · 205 East Houston Street, San Antonio, TX
- Hotel Contessa0.3 mi away · 306 West Market Street
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Related people
- · John Ware Gates
Themes & tags
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