You’ve seen those blue-and-white highway signs across Texas, right? They were put up back in 1968—some 1,500 of them—to help travelers discover the history, culture, and scenery of every corner of the state.

That year, Gov. John Connally designated the 10 Texas Travel Trails, a program that encouraged HemisFair ’68 visitors to stay longer and spend more in the Lone Star State. The promotion was fun, inexpensive, and very successful. Motorists could pick up a map brochure with waypoint information, jump in the car, and go.

These days, the Texas Heritage Trails program is managed by the Texas Historical Commission, and the trail regions serve every county, whether situated on the original driving trail or not.

But those 1968 signs are still there, and they beckon travelers to experience the panorama of heritage represented along the 10 routes.

On Monday, July 29 through Wednesday, July 31, the Texas Plains Trail 50th Anniversary Caravan will drive the “blue line” starting in Lubbock, heading east to Matador and Caprock Canyons; up to Hamblen Drive across Palo Duro Canyon into Canyon (where the group will see the TEXAS Outdoor Musical); up to Amarillo, Borger, and Dumas; and back south and west across Route 66 to Vega, the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, and back via Morton and Levelland to Lubbock.

The Texas Plains Trail Region is the official heritage tourism for our state, working in partnership with the Texas Historical Commission since 1998 and the state of Texas since 1968.

Lubbock will be the starting point of the 750-mile journey to celebrate our golden anniversary, visit heritage sites, and express our thanks to communities and tourism leaders all along the way.

The aim of our delegation is to be a heritage tourism delegation, as well as to introduce participants from outside the Plains and Panhandle to some of the treasures of our region. We will conduct Facebook Live sessions all along the route for the benefit of those who can only come along on the “virtual tour,” but we invite residents of all our communities to just ride along for a portion of the itinerary.

Full Caravan participation includes two nights’ lodging, all meals, and museum admission fees, TEXAS ticket and dinner, and van transportation, for a cost of $285. A few seats are still available.

• Day 1, Monday, July 29: Lubbock, Slaton, Gail, Post, Matador; lodging at historic Hotel Matador.

• Day 2, Tuesday, July 30: Caprock Canyons, Hamblen Drive, Canyon, Amarillo; TEXAS Outdoor Musical; lodging in Amarillo.

• Day 3, Wednesday, July 31: Amarillo, Borger, Sanford; Dumas, Vega, Muleshoe, Morton, Levelland; return to Lubbock.

Options are also available for travelers to participate in portions of the itinerary in their own vehicles, or to simply meet up and greet the group along any part of the itinerary.

Details are posted at www.texasplainstrail.com/plan-your-adventure/ caravan-2019. Or call the Texas Plains Trail Region at 806.252.6554 with questions.

Along the trail, travelers will see dramatic canyon vistas, sweeping horizons, Route 66 neon, historic downtowns, and more. The caravan will also incorporate visits to numerous heritage destinations and museums, including the Lubbock Lake Landmark, Buddy Holly’s gravesite, the historic Motley County Jail, Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, the Goodnight Historical Center, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge.

We welcome visitors to ride along the 750 miles of this original 1968 Texas Travel Trail.