Colbert's Ferry
Denison, Grayson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Established about 1853 by Benjamin F. Colbert. Across it came thousands of immigrants into Texas in the fifties. The stages of the Southern Overland Mail Line, which provided mail and passenger service between St. Louis and San Francisco, crossed there, 1858 to 1861. Abandoned in 1931 when a highway bridge spanned the Red River.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Established around 1853 by Benjamin F. Colbert, this Red River ferry carried thousands of immigrants into Texas during the 1850s. From 1858 to 1861 it served the Southern Overland Mail Line, whose stagecoaches linked St. Louis and San Francisco with mail and passengers. The crossing endured until 1931, when a highway bridge finally spanned the river.
Why it matters
The ferry was a vital gateway on the great overland routes that funneled settlers and cross-country mail into and through the Southwest before the railroads.
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Related people
- · Benjamin F. Colbert
Related events
- · Southern Overland Mail Line
Themes & tags
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