| Santa Fe Trail Site
|
Description
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Council Oak
25K
 |
The Council Oak is located on US Highway 56. It is believed that a
treaty was negotiated under this oak tree with the Osage Indian tribe in 1825
for safe passage of Santa Fe Trail traffic through their lands. The tree itself
was destroyed by a storm but the stump remains under a protective canopy.
|
Post Office Oak (NHL)
45K
 |
The Post Office Oak is located on US Highway 56. The oak tree that
stood here had a hole in its base that was used by Trail travelers from the
1820s to about 1847 as a cache for mail. Legend has it that letters were placed
in the tree by travelers and picked up by those going in the opposite direction
for delivery. Only a portion of the tree still stands.
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| Neosho Crossing
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The Neosho Crossing is located close to the point where US Highway 56 crosses the Neosho
River. This was an important river crossing on the Trail. The steep banks
and high water sometimes made crossings difficult. A new Riverwalk Park
marks the site.
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Conn / Stone / Pioneer Store (NHL)
36K
 |
The Conn/Stone/Pioneer Store is located on Main Street/US Highway
56. This store was considered to be one of the most important trading stores in
Council Grove during the Santa Fe Trail era. The building was erected in 1858
and, although it is much altered from its original state, it is still in use by
a local business.
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Hays House Restaurant (NHL)
33K
 |
The Hays House Restaurant is located on Main Street/US Highway 56.
Seth Hayes came to Council Grove in 1847 to trade with the Kaw Indians. He
originally built a log house out of which he traded. In 1859 he put up the large
building originally called the Frame Store, which was remodeled as the Hayes
House Restaurant. The building has seen many uses, including a general store,
hotel, saloon, and courthouse.
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Seth Hays House (NHL)
31K
 |
The Seth Hays House is two blocks south of Main Street/Highway 56.
Built in 1866, this house was lived in by Seth Hays, his black maid, and his
adopted daughter. It is one of the few Trail homes in the area that has been
preserved near its original condition, and it is currently operated as a
museum.
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Kaw Mission (NRHP)
34K
 |
The Kaw Mission was built in 1850 as a school for Kaw Indian
children. It became a school for white children when the Indians refused to send
their children to the school. It was the first all-white school in Kansas. Today
it is one of the oldest buildings still standing in this part of Kansas and is
operated by the Kansas State Historical Society as a museum.
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Hermit's Cave
30K
 |
Hermit's Cave is 2 blocks north of Main Street/Highway 56 on Belfry
Street. On this site is a small cave that was reportedly the home of an Italian
religious mystic, Giovanni Augustini, for a few months before he traveled to New
Mexico on the Santa Fe Trail.
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Last Chance Store (NHL)
53K
 |
Last Chance Store is west of the Council Grove business district on
the north side of US Highway 56. The store has become known as the most famous
(but not the largest or most important) trading site in Council Grove during the
Trail years. Built in 1857, the privately owned building remains near its
original state today.
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| Council Grove Cemetery
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A number of the Santa Fe Trail pioneers are
buried here.
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