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The Starting Point of the Traders.

Supplies Taken.

Teams and Wagons.

Council Grove the Meeting Place.

Council Oak,

Under which the Commissioners and Indians met at Council Grove to make their treaty. It is still standing. A Santa Fe marker has been placed beneath its branches.

Journeys of Gregg.

Organization of the Caravan.

The Starting of the Caravan.

Crossing the Plains.

The Country West of Council Grove.

North American Bison, Commonly Called Buffaloes.

They were described by Cabeza de Vaca as “crooked-backed oxen.”

Buffaloes Sighted.

Pawnee Rock.

Pawnee Rock.

Forming Camp.

The Caches.

The Trail Divided into Two Routes.

An Experience with Indians.

Their First News.

Round Mound.

Arrival at Santa Fe.

Travel Across Kansas During the ’40’s.

The Soldiers.

The Oregon Settlers.

The Mormons.

The “Forty-niners.”

The Oregon Trail.

SUMMARY

The Santa Fe Trail was a great road about 775 miles long, beginning successively at the Missouri towns, Franklin, Independence, and Westport, and extending westward to Santa Fe. Four hundred miles of its length were in Kansas. Travel began in 1822 for the purpose of trading with Mexico. The first merchandise was carried on pack mules, but wagons began to be used in 1824. The traders experienced much trouble with the Indians, and in 1829 they began going together in big caravans for protection. The gathering place was Council Grove, where they organized and started. A few of the well-known sites along the Trail were Pawnee Rock, Ash Creek, Pawnee Fork, and The Caches. At Cimarron Crossing the Trail divided. The northern branch followed the Arkansas and crossed the mountains over practically the same route as that followed by the Santa Fe Railway to-day. The southern branch was the cut-off across the desert. Another historic highway was the Oregon Trail, sometimes called the Mormon Trail and sometimes the California Road. This Trail crossed the northeast corner of Kansas.