| Santa Fe Trail Site
|
Description
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Santa Fe Trail / Oregon Trail Junction
45K
 |
The junction of the Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon Trail is
approximately 2 miles west of the town of Gardner on US Highway 56, and .25 mile
to the north. At this point the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails separated after
following the same route from Independence, Missouri. In the 1840s, a sign that
said "Road to Oregon" was erected at this site. |
| Black Jack Park Ruts
|
A dramatic set of parallel ruts is located in Douglas
County Prairie Park, adjacent to Black Jack State Park, east of Baldwin
City. These are among the finest along the entire length of the trail. |
| The Narrows
|
The Narrows ran from just west of present Black Jack
State Park, east of Baldwin City, to the site of Willow Springs, some 9 miles
west. Wagon trains had to stay on this ridge to avoid rough terrain and
muddy draws. |
Palmyra / Santa Fe Well
35K
 |
The Palmyra/Santa Fe Well is within present-day Baldwin City,
Kansas, to the east of the high school. The community of Palmyra grew along the
Santa Fe Trail in the 1850s, and the well provided water for Trail travelers and
their livestock. The Trail has been commemorated with markers nearby and the
well is identified as the Santa Fe Well. One mile to the northwest is Trail
Park, which contains interpretive markers. Just beyond the park are stretches of
county roads that lie on the Trail. |
Simmons Point Stage Station
29K
 |
The Simmons Point Stage Station is north of US Highway 56 and 12
miles west of Baldwin City. The stage station itself remains today as part of a
privately owned farmhouse that has been abandoned. Due to its unsafe condition,
one should not try to approach the station.
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| Blue Mound
|
This prominent hill is south of the Kansas
River, approximately 3 miles south of Lawrence, Kansas. It served as a landmark
for travelers on their way to the Santa Fe Trail along the 1846 military
road from Fort Leavenworth.
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