Close-up of portrait of St. Anthony, patron saint of horses. Courtesy Enrique Guerra, San Vicente Ranch, Linn.

Honoring a Texas Collector

The Life and Legacy of Enrique E. Guerra

On March 27, 2017, the Texas House of Representatives passed Resolution 821 commemorating the posthumous induction of Enrique E. Guerra into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Guerra, a 12th-generation Texan, was a farmer, rancher, historian, and avid collector and preserver of artifacts celebrating Texas’s rich cultural legacy.

For a small glimpse of his legacy, look no further than one of Texas’s most beloved symbols. Without Guerra, we might not have our famous Texas Longhorn. He was instrumental in reintroducing the Spanish-blooded longhorn to Texas in the 1950s, saving a dwindling population.

Image U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Though you may not have noticed, if you’ve been to the Bullock Museum since our opening, you’ve seen examples of Guerra’s vast collection of artifacts from Texas’s past. Longtime president of the Texas Gun Collector’s Association, Guerra collected firearms from Spanish and Mexican Texas.

This early 19th century musket is typical of those used by Mexican cavalry units during the siege of the Alamo. The Mexican Army was equipped with weapons purchased from the British in the early 1820s. The trigger guard on this musket is stamped with the word “Tower” and an embossed crown, indications that the musket was inspected at the Tower of London. Courtesy Enrique Guerra, San Vincente Ranch, Linn

Supporting his love of ranching, his collection also included many rare pieces representing the Spanish antecedents of cowboy culture.

The Mother Hubbard saddle was better suited for dense brush and the long cattle drives. Less ornate than the Californian saddles preferred by vaqueros, it became the saddle of choice for American cowboys. Courtesy Enrique Guerra, San Vincente Ranch, Linn.

Following the expansion of American territory after the U.S.-Mexican War, Anglo cowboys joined vaqueros on Texas ranches and began learning from them. The hats, chaps, spurs, boots, and lassos that are a standard part of the cowboy uniform are actually a vaquero tradition. The Mother Hubbard saddle is one of these adaptations. It first appeared during the 1860s as a smaller, lighter version of the saddle favored by the vaqueros.

In addition to cultural adaptations, Guerra’s collection also includes examples of vaquero and cowboy ingenuity. This set of six bells would hang from a leather covering, which was secured to the neck of the lead steer on a trail drive. The other steers in the herd instinctively followed the loud clanging, making the drive easier for the cowboys.

Judas Steer Trail Drive bells. Courtesy Enrique Guerra, San Vicente Ranch, Linn.

Throughout his life, Guerra exemplified the tradition of a true Texas cowboy and his legacy will live on for years to come through the ongoing work of his family and as thousands of people enjoy the benefits of his work in preserving Texas heritage.

More than half a dozen artifacts from Guerra’s collection are currently on view in the Texas History Galleries at the Bullock Texas State History Museum.