The Santa Fe, Oregon, and California trails once passed this way
Heavy freight wagons lumbering to and from New Mexico, and emigrant families and gold seekers heading west to Oregon and California all shared this route from Independence and Kansas City. The trails split here at Gardner Junction.
Preserving the Past for the FutureThe Santa Fe, Oregon, and California trails' designations as national historic trails has led to increased awareness and protection. It has also opened opportunities for visitors to experience the routes and related sites. Museums, visitor centers, and tour routes along the trails provide maps, brochures, and other information to assist with your travel plans. These exhibits are the first in a series along the Auto Tour Routes to help direct you to local trail sites. Enjoy!
Visiting the National Historic Trails TodayThe map and photographs here are a sampling of the trail sites you can explore. For maps and further information about these trails, visit:
· Gardner Museum, Gardner
· Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, Olathe
· Shawnee Mission, Fairway
· Trailside Center, Kansas City
· National Frontier Trails Museum, Independence
Trail Markers and SignsOver time, many groups have placed signs and markers along the trails to indicate the location of trail sites, points of interest, and historic
wagon ruts. In the early 1900s, the Daughters of the American Revolution installed granite markers along the Santa Fe Trail that are still visible today.
1. Lone ElmA famous frontier trail camp-site and rendezvous point, Lone Elm was used for almost four decades by thousands of Santa Fe traders and emigrants on the Oregon and California trails.
2. Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and FarmThe last remaining stagecoach stop on the historic Santa Fe Trail still open to the public. Three original buildings are preserved and open for visitors to explore.
3. WestportWestport was a major point of embarkation on the Santa Fe Trail after it superseded Independence in the late 1840s to the early 1850s. A walking tour and trail sites, such as the Harris House pictured above, can be found here.
4. South Kansas City SitesNumerous historic sites related to all three trails can be explored in and around the city. The greenway path pictured above provides access to many of them.
5. Minor Park and New Santa Fe RutsThe 27-acre Minor Park preserves dramatic swales left behind as wagons crossed the Blue River. The cemetery at New Santa Fe also has some remnants of trail ruts.
6. Raytown AreaThe 85th and Manchester swale and the Archibald Rice Home, pictured above, are developed trail sites you can visit
in Raytown.
7. IndependenceThis city was a major outfitting point for emigrants and trail travelers. Many historic sites and buildings remain from trail days.
8. Fort LeavenworthEstablished in 1827 this fort is still an active military base. Many freighters, emigrants, and other trail travelers utilized the fort. Army troops based here provided protection along the routes.
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