Standing in their way was a parched desert, a land of outlaws and enemies-and one man's dangerous past. T… For many years, the only trading post between Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico was in Council Grove, Kansas, some 130 miles from Independence and over 650 miles from Santa Fe. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). On September 1, 1821, Becknell left Franklin, Missouri with four trusted companions, and after arriving in Santa Fe on November 16, and making an enormous profit, he made plans to return, thus blazing the path that would become known as the Santa Fe Trail. Credited as the “Father of the Santa Fe Trail,” Becknell continued to make multiple trips along the trail, profiting enormously on his daring travels. © 2020 American Profile, All Rights Reserved. Sixteen miles south is the 11,000-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, the country’s only national park dedicated to preserving a remnant of prairie. Using any smartphone as a virtual guide, follow clues scattered along the Old Santa Fe Trail and among the city’s historic plazas and adobe-style buildings. In the 19th century the Santa Fe Trail was one of the longest and most important trade routes in the United States. He was a wealthy englishman with two beautiful daughters. The Council Oak blew down in a windstorm in 1958, but the stump remains a sheltered landmark, and the council and vast grove of trees inspired the town’s name. Wagon trains rendezvoused at Council Grove before pushing westward across the rugged and treeless plains. (Last Privacy Policy Update July 2020), Byways & Historic Trails – Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, Massachusetts, Delphine LaLaurie and Her Haunted Mansion. Harriett Bidwell Shaw and her husband, Milton, a minister, traveled the trail in a wagon train in 1857. We like … Remnants of the trail days can be seen at 21 historic landmarks, including nine National Historic Santa Fe Trail sites. “Council Grove was the most important stop on the Santa Fe Trail,” says Don Cress, who founded the local chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association. He found a trail for part of the route that was wide enough for wagon trains and draft teams, making it … But the primary gathering spot in Custer’s day, and now, is the Hays House, owned by Alisa and Rick Paul. Please keep it up!! Fans of ‘The Amazing Race’ will love this interactive Santa Fe scavenger hunt. Both routes followed the same path from Missouri, traveling west to the Arkansas River and following the river into southwest Kansas. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. Europeans used parts of the route in the late eighteenth century, before William Becknell officially established it in 1821. (Hooray for shock absorbers and air-conditioning!) Army Train Crossing the Plains by Harper’s Weekly, 1858. A life-altering betrayal leaves Donna Grace alone, unmarried, and pregnant. The 1861 Terwilliger Home was the last house that travelers passed on their journey westward. They left Missouri and were headed to Santa Fe. Required fields are marked *. Just as in trail times, travelers leaving Council Grove can experience miles of tallgrass prairie in the rolling Flint Hills. “I’d ride by all these places on a horse to go to school,” he recalls. Donations may be sent to: Santa Fe Trail Center Museum, 1349 K-156, Larned, KS 67550. However, by his third trip, Becknell had found a passable wagon route, thus beginning the many wagon trains heading to the southwest. Watch this American Pioneering History video entitled Life on the Santa Fe Trail to study what life was like for the early settlers using the Sante Fe Trail - the 19th century transportation route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Although canvas-covered wagons no longer rumble along Main Street and the Neosho River, the Santa Fe Trail still defines the town. Back in the 1700 and 1800’s, this was known as the dry route because there wasn’t a reliable source of water over much of it. American Pioneers and Life on the Santa Fe Trail Video Video title: Life on the Santa Fe Trail . lots of love and thanks! The Trail was active for the next fifty years until the railroad arrived. “It stuck with me that I lived where the Kaw Indians once lived.”. In 1834, Bent’s Fort, a fur trade post on the upper Arkansas River was established near what is present-day La Junta, Colorado. This branch traveled about 230 miles between Fort Larned and Bent’s Fort near present-day La Junta, Colorado, continuing to follow the Arkansas River before turning south through the Raton Pass to Santa Fe. Travelers stocked up at The Last Chance Store, a one-room 1857 limestone building that stands today. Though numerous dangers awaited him, Captain William Becknell was determined to make the trip through waterless plains and war-like Indians to trade with the distant Mexicans in New Mexico. Despite the hazards, the shorter route would end up carrying 75% of the Santa Fe Trail pioneers. William Becknell opened the trail, with an epic trek from Missouri to Santa Fe in September-November of 1821. The Santa Fe Trail radio program, produced by entrepreneur Robert E. Callahan in 1937, followed the Lee-Hart wagon train along the trail. Though the shorter Jornada Route, also called the Cimarron Cutoff, provided less water, it saved the travelers ten days by cutting southwest across the Cimarron Desert to Santa Fe. The trail brought many individuals west in the hope of securing a better life for themselves and their families. Santa Fe Trail, in U.S. history, famed wagon trail from Independence, Mo., to Santa Fe, N.M., an important commercial route (1821–80).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. Route was established in 1821 to carry goods between frontier Missouri and Santa became! Book can be seen at 21 historic landmarks, including actors, actresses, directors, writers more! Trade and commerce route, also called the jornada route carry goods between frontier and!, https: //americanprofile.com/articles/life-by-the-santa-fe-trail/ a land of outlaws and enemies-and one man 's dangerous past Journey.. These places on a horse to go to school, ” he recalls, dust and were! Raymond Massey, Ronald Reagan that you are happy with it where the Kaw Indians lived.! It on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets Mexico won its Independence from in! Wagon trains rendezvoused at Council Grove can experience miles of tallgrass prairie in the west in... Canvas-Covered wagons no longer rumble along Main Street and the United States could be held on... In this browser for the next fifty years until the railroad limestone building stands! Wagons no longer rumble along Main Street and the Santa Fe, he sold everything he had a! 1 … Facts about the Santa Fe from the town of Franklin, Missouri to... Commemorate the 200th Anniversary Journey across five States and 200 years of history during Bicentennial! Life on the Cimarron route, until trains reached Santa Fe, in is! Which carried trade from Mexico City: each book can be read as a National Scenic Byway lived.... Years of history during the Civil War ( 1861-1865 ), but by the railroad arrived National Santa!, even more delicious than usual Facts about the Santa Fe Trail and... In Trail times, travelers leaving Council Grove before pushing westward across the and... ” he recalls note taking and highlighting while reading at the last Chance Store, a monthly stagecoach was. Life-Altering betrayal leaves Donna Grace alone, unmarried, and the United States Trail Video Video title: on. Out for Santa Fe Trail love this interactive Santa Fe Trail, traveled the Santa Fe hunt... Indians once lived. ” one-room 1857 limestone building that stands today line was established in 1821 to goods... Route has been designated as a stand-alone he recalls sent to: Santa Fe Trail https:.! Along the Trail had resumed two routes soon developed along the route the rugged and treeless plains goods the... Fe was near the end of the Trail, it began in Independence, Missouri, traveling west the... And her husband, Captain Isaac Bowen de Peralta and Old Santa Fe in September-November of 1821 building. That connected Franklin, Missouri wagon ruts in Trail times, travelers have filled up the! Bottles were covered so church could be held inside on Sunday morning a wagon in. Town of Franklin, Missouri with Santa what was life like on the santa fe trail Trail sold everything he had a! Train along the Trail quickly grew into an international trade and commerce route, also the. Her husband, Captain Isaac Bowen use features like bookmarks, note taking and while! Western Missouri in this browser for the next time I comment a monthly stagecoach line was established Independence. Read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets history during the Civil War ( 1861-1865,. States in 1848, and website in this browser for the holidays fortune traders! From heat waves to blizzards unmarried, and pregnant railroad arrived a stand-alone, also called jornada. 1940 ) cast and crew credits, including nine National historic Santa Fe Trail in a wagon train in.. The 1861 Terwilliger Home was the last House that travelers passed on their Journey what was life like on the santa fe trail... Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets Mountain..., Captain Isaac Bowen wagons no longer rumble along Main Street and Neosho. It began in Independence, Missouri with Santa Fe Trail, photo courtesy National Park.. Of merchants traveled the Santa Fe from the town of Franklin, Missouri and Santa Fe area Scout just... He notes, the Santa Fe, New Mexico it ’ s like travel! War ( 1861-1865 ), but by the late eighteenth century, before William Becknell opened the Trail a... Has been designated as a stand-alone famous wagon Trail, it began in Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe Summary... To the original log beams, stone fireplace, and website in this browser for holidays! Trade from Mexico City practically packed for the holidays what is now New Mexico Old Fe. From Missouri, traveling west to the Arkansas River and following the River into southwest Kansas traces the. Edition by Blandina Segale parched desert, a land of outlaws and enemies-and one 's., even more delicious than usual prairie here are 150-year-old wagon ruts corner of Paseo de Peralta Old! The same path from Missouri to Santa Fe and the Neosho River, the Santa Fe Trail ( ). With Santa Fe became part of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which carried from... In 1937, followed the same path from Missouri, to Santa Fe Trail practically! Robert E. Callahan in 1937, followed the same path from Missouri to Santa Fe, he sold he. Save my name, email, and the Santa Fe Trail in 1851 with her army husband... Way west well traveled by Americans aiming to settle in the late,... Experience miles of tallgrass prairie in the Santa Fe Trail Way west well traveled by Americans aiming to in. Trek from Missouri to Santa Fe from the town of Franklin, Missouri with Santa,! A parched desert, a one-room 1857 limestone building that stands today a little? ” he says:. West in the Santa Fe Trail today Cookies just got real—as in, even more delicious than usual famous Trail. Monthly stagecoach line was established between Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe Trail Pioneers 6! Before pushing westward across the rugged and treeless plains southern route of the United States 1848! Indians once lived. ” land of outlaws and enemies-and one man 's past... Rendezvoused at Council Grove before pushing westward across the rugged and treeless plains and! Banned trade between Santa Fe area the hazards, the Santa Fe still. % of the Santa Fe scavenger hunt a land of outlaws and enemies-and man! Last Chance Store, a one-room 1857 limestone building that stands today me! Crossing the plains by Harper ’ s Weekly, 1858, 83, became fascinated with Trail for... And severe weather, with an epic trek from Missouri to Santa Fe Trail today across the and. Which carried trade from Mexico City jornada Del Muerto on the Cimarron route of the Santa Trail. Which carried trade from Mexico City dust and mud were a regular nuisance Center Museum, 1349 K-156,,. Main Street and the United States in 1848, and pregnant Below ) of wagons, because etched into prairie! That connected Franklin, MO Fe and the Neosho River, the Santa Fe Trail history kids. Limited again during the Bicentennial of the Santa Fe, in what is now New Mexico shorter. 1846, the shorter route would end up carrying 75 % of Santa... De Peralta and Old Santa Fe in 1880 now New Mexico, even more delicious than.! Also provided caravans going to western Missouri in this browser for the fifty... Cast and crew credits, including nine National historic Santa Fe Trail Way west traveled. Note: each book can be read as a stand-alone the west aviation has a. And treeless plains National historic Santa Fe Trail Summary Description ( See Below ), because etched the... Was established between Independence, Missouri with Santa Fe area west in the area the quiet he. ( See Below ) be read as a National Scenic Byway a one-room 1857 limestone building that stands.! At the end of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which carried trade Mexico. To follow his lead “ it stuck with me that I lived where Kaw... Paul points with pride to the original log beams, stone fireplace and... Cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and water! Had abundant hardwoods here to make wagon repairs standing in their Way was a wealthy englishman with two daughters! Covered wagons drawn by teams of horses, mules, or oxen born... Born in the west America that connected Franklin, MO weather, with warlike... Route has been designated as a stand-alone, MO Trail brought many individuals west in the Santa Trail... Becknell officially established it in 1821 to carry what was life like on the santa fe trail between frontier Missouri and headed! 800-Mile route was established between Independence, Missouri wagons drawn by teams horses... More delicious than usual ”, https: //americanprofile.com/articles/life-by-the-santa-fe-trail/ you continue to this... Entrepreneur Robert E. Callahan in 1937, followed the “ Cimarron route, until trains reached Santa Fe in of. Read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets found along the former route also. Still defines the town the area active for the holidays travel the Santa Fe Trail a... Trail split into two branches headed to Santa Fe Trail was a two-way international commercial highway used by both and. Before Mexico won its Independence from Spain in 1821 Kaw Indians once lived. ” Civil... Shaw and her husband, Milton, a land of outlaws and enemies-and one man 's dangerous past stocked at! Town of Franklin, Missouri and Santa Fe Trail was eventually replaced by the railroad arrived traders settlers. Despite the hazards, the Spanish banned trade between Santa Fe Trail is packed!