the big D

Pioneer Plaza 7, originally uploaded by smoooch.

You know what they say.. everything is bigger in Texas. And I've found it to be true. Today I arrived in Dallas, Texas and saw the biggest flag of the United States I have ever seen. In fact, I almost thougth it was the biggest flag ever until I noticed the bigger one of the state of Texas flapping behind it. If I wasn't going 120 down an unfamiliar 8 lane freeway, I would have stopped to photograph it.

Instead, I went to Pioneer Plaza which boast the world's largest monument in bronze. 40 larger than life longhorn steers are herded by 3 larger than life cowboys on horseback.

"From the 1840's until right after the Civil War, cattle, mostly longhorn from south Texas ranches, were driven along the Shawnee Trail to northern markets in St. Joseph and St. Louis, Missouri. The Shawnee was the first trail of its kind in Texas and marked the beginning of an era that would make cattle the number one agricultural product in the Texas economy. The Shawnee Trail crossed near the site of Pioneer Plaza and proceeded up the Preston Trail (now Preston Road) to the Red River then turning northeast to Missouri."

You can see all my photos of Pioneer Plaza here.

Pioneer Plaza 10, originally uploaded by smoooch.