The Dalton Gang shootout in 1894 pitted a group of the Wild West’s most fearsome outlaws against the people of Longview. The ensuing gun fight left four residents and one bandit dead, leading to the eventual capture of Bill Dalton, the group’s ringleader.
Since 1994, the Gregg County Historical Museum has commemorated the shootout at a Longview bank with a detailed reenactment and festival and will expand the April 6 event to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
“Instead of just one street in front of the museum, it will be a three-street festival,” said Lindsay Loy, executive director of the museum. Festivities will take place along Methvin Street from the Gregg County courthouse to Heritage Plaza.
Loy said two groups of reenactors, one from Dallas and another from Hallsville, will bring the robbery to life and freeze the reenactment periodically to provide historical backstories.
“For instance, we have a little information on Sheriff Matt Muckleroy. He actually got shot during the shootout. He was shot in the heart, but he was wearing a coin purse inside his breast pocket, so the bullet ricocheted off a silver dollar saving his life,” Loy said.
The museum is planning to have a little something for everyone at Dalton Days, however.
There will be an antique car show in front of the courthouse, two bands, craft booths, food vendors and two children’s areas.
At one of the areas, Loy said, children can practice gun duels with reenactors and shoot cups off fence rails, Wild West style.
“Across the street in the Vera bank parking lot we’ll have our petting zoo, pony rides, a small train kids can ride on and a firetruck,” Loy said. Children will also receive a free pass to the museum that can be exchanged for admission at a later date.
While the main event is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6, a 5K race called the Dalton Dash is set to begin at 8 a.m. that day with a children’s “fun run” starting an hour later, which is free to join.
Dalton Days is a free event partly funded by a grant from the city of Longview.
The Dalton Dash 5k requires a $30 admission fee.
Visit gregghistorical.org to learn more.
