The santa fe trail was americas first commercial highway. Jornada del muerto on the cimarron route of the santa fe trail, photo. Facts about the santa fe trail history for kids santa fe trail history fact 1. The santa fe trail aka, santa fe road was an ancient passageway used regularly after 1821 by merchanttraders from missouri who took manufactured goods to santa fe to exchange for furs and other items available there. The fort was established on april 10, 1865, by captain henry pierce, by order of major general grenville m. Spotlight on history the santa fe trail, new mexico. Santa fe trail new mexico national scenic byway museum page. The original santa fe would soon become the seat of power for the spanish empire north of the rio grande.
The santa fe trail was a transportation route opened by the. The santa fe trail aka, santa fe road was an ancient passageway used regularly after 1821 by merchanttraders from missouri who took manufactured. Pioneered in 1821 by william becknell, who departed from the boonslick region along the missouri river, the trail served as a vital commercial highway until 1880, when the railroad arrived in santa fe. Leroy and ann hafen of utah published their definitive history of the trail in 1954. The history of the trail in new mexico is full of interesting facts and stories. Legler barn is home to many artifacts and exhibits. Map timeline 1821 1880 william becknell opened up the santa fe trail, between the missouri river and the mexican provincial capital of santa fe, in the fall of 1821. On the road going in to the monument are roadside interpretive sites for the santa fe trail. Most archaeologists agree that these sites were abandoned 200 years before the.
The santa fe rail trail follows the old atchinson, topeka and santa fe railway line, beginning at santa fes railyard park on the southwestern end of the city and continuing to highway 285 in lamy. This was especially true during the last 15 years of the trail s history, when the westward push of the railroads incrementally shortened the distance between santa fe and the most. Arrival of the caravan at santa fe, lithograph published c. Trinidad is now a city displaying the evidence of its prosperous past, the cobblestone streets, the restored commercial district, restored historic homes such as the blooms and the bacas now part of the trinidad history museum. The kansas state historic preservation office shpo lead the effort to draft the national register of. The santa fe trail, both its historic ground and the nps trial stretches for eight hundred and seventy miles or so from independence, missouri to santa fe, mexico. Please contact each site before you go to obtain current information on closures, changes in hours, and fees. Santa fe trail national scenic byway new mexico tourism. The trail was also used by stagecoach lines, thousands of gold seekers heading to the california and colorado gold fields, adventurers, fur trappers, and emigrants. The santa fe trail was the most important route to the west from the missouri river to santa fe, mexico, before the era of the railroads. The santa fe trail stirs imaginations as few other historic trails can. Opened by william becknell, a trader, the trail was used by merchant wagon caravans travelling in parallel columns, which, when indians attacked, as they did frequently between 1864 and.
This is the large ruin of fort union on the santa fe national historic trail. Traders established the trailwhich connected missouri to santa fe, new mexico. The santa fe trail was an early trade route between the eastern u. The santa fe trail served as the pioneer highway from 1821 to 1872 as a link from the east to santa fe, new mexico. Historic resources of the santa fe trail, 18211880.
Between 1821 and 1880, the santa fe trail was primarily a commercial highway connecting missouri and santa fe, new mexico. The santa fe trail was a major overland route for westward expansion during the 1800s. All events, conferences, and meetings have been cancelled or postponed until further notice. The santa fe trail national scenic byway consists of two forks, following the path of the pioneering wagons heading west. This is an excellent book for those curious persons who would like to know how the santa fe trail developed. The santa fe trail associations purposes are exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning. Beginning in 1848, the santa fe trail was used to send mail. Santa fe trail highway to the southwest legends of america. The first major western trail was the santa fe trail, which stretched 800 miles from independence, missouri, to the town of santa fe, the capital of spanish new mexico. The route got its start in 1821, when an advertisement in the missouri intelligencer by william becknell, seeking men willing to join and invest in a trading expedition to the west. Includes many art exhibits and artifacts pertaining to the santa fe trail and early pioneering life. Santa fe trail kansapedia kansas historical society.
Perhaps this is because this book is less a history of santa fe itself as it is a excellent view following the. It was used extensively by traders, freighters, those headed to pikes peak, and the military from its survey by the federal government in 1825 until the 1870s. Santa fe trail history william becknell, 1821 the santa fe trail aka, santa fe road was an ancient passageway used regularly after 1821 by merchanttraders from missouri who took manufactured goods to santa fe to exchange for furs and other items available there. It is located to the east of the caches, a noted landmark on the santa fe trail, and presentday dodge city, kansas. Trinidad, colorados history as a stop on the santa fe trail. As the ending point of the main trail, it became a large trading area for supplies needed while traveling. Most archaeologists agree that these sites were abandoned 200 years before the spanish arrived. In 1854, jeb stuart, george custer and other graduates from west point are posted to kansas to help pacify the territory before railroad construction to santa fe can resume. The route skirted the northern edge and crossed the north.
The santa fe trail, whose terminus was santa fe in northcentral new mexico, proceeded westward along the prairie to great bend, kansas. Nine miles west of dodge city you can see the most clearly defined rut trails, still visible after almost 150 years. Preconquest and founding, circa 1050 1607 santa fes site was originally occupied by a number of pueblo indian villages with founding dates from between 1050 to 1150. The mission of the santa fe trail association is to protect and preserve the santa fe trail and to promote awareness of the historical legacy associated with it. The santa fe trail in new mexico end of the journey. Fort dodge, kansas serving the santa fe trail legends of. Santa fe s history may be divided into six periods. Some tours also include area superstitions, as well as santa fes history of vigilantes, gunfights, murders, and hangings. The santa fe trail was essentially abandoned during the mexican war and the civil war, but later continued to be an important trade artery until it was superseded by the santa fe railroad in 1880.
Historic resources of the santa fe trail, 18211880 history colorado. New york and chicago have larger art markets but are enormous cities by comparison. The santa fe trail center museum is the official repository of historic pawnee county records. Jun 03, 2019 the santa fe trail was americas first commercial highway. David dary has written a real history book that is very pleasant and charming while it gives you a lot of facts about the commerce on the trail. This museum is a regional center for interpretation of the santa fe trail and early railroad history. Rayado started from a santa fe trail campsite established by lucien maxwell in 1848.
Timeline of the santa fe trail official santa fe trail association. This bundle contains 11 readytouse santa fe trail worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about the santa fe trail which was a commercial route connecting missouri and santa fe, new mexico from 1821 to 1880. Like the oregon trail to the pacific northwest, it originated in independence, missouri. Written by robert buckner, the film is about the abolitionist john brown and his campaign against slavery prior to the american civil war. The santa fe trail associations purposes are exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning of section 501 c 3 of the internal revenue code. Other routes also led into santa fe, notably the route extending from fort smith, arkansas, across indian territory and the area of the present texas panhandle, known as the fort smithsanta fe trail, but it was the missouriarkansas river route that became famed in history and fiction for the adventure it typified and the volume of commerce. In addition, we house genealogical documents such as personal papers, family histories, business records, church records, obituaries, fraternal organization records and more.
Unlike the oregon trail, used to haul settlers to their new homes in the west, the santa fe trail was a trade route, used to haul goods and supplies. The trail then made its way to rayado, 12 miles south of cimarron. Traders established the trailwhich connected missouri to santa fe, new mexico and covered some 900 miles of the great plainsin 1821. It includes maps, pictures, ruts, the dangers involved, the transition to the santa fe railroad. Mexican traders also provided caravans going to western missouri in this. Fort dodge was one of the most important forts on the western frontier. Museums, interpretive centers, and historic sites provide information and interpretation for the santa fe national historic trail. The santa fe trail between missouri and santa fe, in what was once mexico, ran through the southeast corner of colorado. By 1880, people could travel all the way from kansas city, missouri, to santa fe, new mexico by train, and the trail eventually fell. Long before europeans came to the north american continent, there was trading taking place across the great plains. Traders established the trailwhich connected missouri to santa fe, new mexico and. With more than 31 santa fe trails covering 91 miles, youre bound to find a perfect trail like the river trail or new mexico 528 rec path.
It was first used in 1821, and last used in 1880, after the railroads came to new mexico. Santa fe trail new mexico national scenic byway home page. The santa fe trail for kids and teachers free american. Santa fe trail mar 8, 2018 7 of the gutsiest women on the american frontier spies and scouts, mothers and homestead keepers, women quietly made their mark on. Council grove was the only trading post between independence, missouri and santa fe, new mexico. Over the following decade one apache group, the jicarillas, acquired a special notoriety, three times blocking the santa fe trail and in the march 30, 1853, battle of cieneguilla crushing the u. This 19 page slideshow gives basic information about the santa fe trail. The santa fe trail was heavily used during the mexican war because of the large volume of military supplies that were transported from the missouri river towns to the southwest. Aug 23, 2012 new york and chicago have larger art markets but are enormous cities by comparison.
Perhaps this is because this book is less a history of santa fe itself as it is a excellent view following the trail across missouri and kansas to santa fe. Other routes also led into santa fe, notably the route extending from fort smith, arkansas, across indian territory and the area of the present texas panhandle, known as the fort smith santa fe trail, but it was the missouriarkansas river route that became famed in history and fiction for the adventure it typified and the volume of commerce. Over its 400 plus year history, santa fe has been a commercial center, a place where goods and services were made and traded. The route played a major role in bringing people, goods, and ideas to and from santa fe for the next 59 years. This reliable route was traversed by a bevy of fortuneseeking individuals, including wild bill hickok, frontiersman kit carson, jedediah smith and explorer zebulon pike. There was a military camp at rayado in the early 1850s to help protect this portion of the mountain route. Adam legler built his limestone barn in 1864 close to the santa fe trail, and today it is the lenexa historical society museum. Because the road began in santa fe, it was called the santa fe trail. It was also called as the great prairie highway for 60 years connecting economies of different territories through trading. Follow the santa fe national historic trail through five states and youll find adventure and evidence of past travelers who made this remarkable trip before you. Following sporadic trade with settlements such as french new orleans and spanish texas, the town really opened up in 1821, when the first trading caravans completed the 900 mile journey from missouri.
The santa fe trail museum displays historic photographs, commercial goods, and family heirlooms from trail days through trinidads heyday at the turn of the century. A fringed buckskin coat that kit carson gave to a pioneer mayor is a local treasure. There are many places of history and commemoration on the santa fe trail for you to visit. There is no mention of the influence of artists,such as georgia okeefe. Opened by william becknell, a trader, the trail was used by merchant wagon caravans travelling in parallel columns, which, when indians attacked, as they did frequently between 1864 and 1869, could quickly form a circular line of defense. The santa fe trail divided into two main sections in new mexico. The santa fe trail scenic byway profile is funded by the federal highway administration and the new mexico department of tourism. Being a faithbased scouting program, we prepare youth to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of the scout oath and law. From 1610, when the spanish founded the city of santa fe, to the 1860s, when the railroad brought unprecedented changes. Tourism santa fe santa fe covid19 traveler information. Dec 11, 2009 celebrating the 175th anniversary of the santa fe trail, this program reexamines the history of this great american event from the point of view of the hispanic and native americans residents of.
Santa fe national historic trail 2020 all you need to know. July 2017 the author of this article is solely responsible for its content. The pathway parallels the santa fe southern railway, an active tourism line, in a configuration known as railwithtrail. A history of the santa fe trail official santa fe trail association.
It was used for over sixty years as a commerce highway and pioneer trail, an invasion route for the united states during the mexicanamerican war, and now can be visited in whole or. We had an excellent guide, full of knowledgeable information, history and offbeat trivia that bought everything alive for us, including his knowledge. Explore the best trails in santa fe, new mexico on traillink. Lenexa, home to real santa fe trail road rich in history. The santa fe trail was a commercial route connecting missouri and santa fe, new mexico from 1821 to 1880. The santa fe trail was an historic trail from independence, missouri to santa fe, new mexico used in the 1800s for trade and military purposes. Traders established the trailwhich connected missouri to santa fe, new mexico and covered some 900 miles of the great plainsin. The santa fe trail was a 19thcentury route through central north america that connected franklin, missouri with santa fe, new mexico. The route was pioneered by missouri trader william becknell, who left franklin, missouri in september 1821. The country was acquiring new states, but there were no trains, cars, or airplanes to take. The santa fe trail was a transportation route opened by the spaniards at the end of the 18th century. The santa fe trail began as a commercial venture when the quickly growing population in santa fe needed goods and services.
In 1880 the railroad reached santa fe and the trail faded into history. Jan 29, 2020 however, the santa fe trail was rarely a static entity, because both the route across the plains and the eastern terminus of the trail was constantly in flux. Santa fe, new mexico the city different legends of america. The trail had played a vital role in integrating the southwest into the american economy. Santa fe national historic trail 2020 all you need to. The route was pioneered in 1821 by a trader called william becknell 17961865. The kansas historical society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the states history. The trail allowed traders to move goods across the country safely and easily. In the early 1800s, the united states looked very different from the way it does today. Before 1820, traders from the united states who ventured into the mexicos northern frontier had been imprisoned and their property confiscated by spanish officials. During the 1800s, santa fe became a major terminal for the santa fe trail that spanned from independence, missouri, to santa fe. Our history since 1946 the santa fe trail council, boy scouts of america has served youth throughout 19 counties in southwest kansas. But in 1821, william becknell opened the santa fe trail, which tied the southwest economically to the united states and. Santa fe trail sand creek massacre colorado scenic.
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