We explore the surprising maritime history of Texas cowboys who swam thousands of cattle across open saltwater to reach Galveston Island's rich grazing lands. This forgotten chapter reveals how the Texas Gulf Coast played a vital role in building the cattle economy that helped shape the state.

• Spanish and Mexican vaqueros created the original cowboy techniques that would become the foundation of Texas ranching culture
• Galveston Island's salt-tolerant grasses made it ideal winter pasture, with water naturally fencing in the cattle
• Cowboys literally swam herds across Galveston Bay, guiding thousands of cattle through the water
• Legendary cowboys like Sterling Spell performed extraordinary feats, including wrestling a 1,000-pound steer during a bay crossing
• Galveston's deep natural harbor and rail connections made it a crucial cattle export hub to Cuba, Central America, and Europe
• The Butler family's stockpens processed tens of thousands of cattle annually, including a Cuban shipment of 49,000 head
• Barbed wire and expanding railroads ended the era of open-range grazing and long cattle drives
• The Schaper family operated a dairy farm on Galveston's West End for nearly 90 years
• Coastal ranching contributed to industry innovations like dipping vats to combat Texas fever
• In 2011, Galveston facilitated the largest live cattle export in U.S. history, shipping over 5,500 pregnant heifers to Russia
• Though now primarily a vacation destination, Galveston's West End still contains traces of its cattle ranching heritage

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