Classic. Western. Practical, with some flair. These words, and many others, may come to mind when you think of the modern cowboy boot. But - you may not realize what a rich history this shoe rack staple boasts. While nobody really knows exactly who invented the cowboy boot, or where it was invented (some say Texas, others say Kansas), the story is always the same.
It all started with the end of the Civil War in 1865. The military boots issued to cowboys during the war weren’t great fit for riding in stirrups for several hours through creeks, bushes, and brambles. As reported in Texas Monthly, cowboys between 1866 and 1890 “started asking cobblers for boots with a slimmer design, higher heels, more rounded toes, and a sturdier instep than were available at the time.”
