Fort Larned Table

Larned, Kansas and vicinity

Westbound Trail travelers chose between the "wet route," which afforded good grazing and water
for large numbers of stock, and the shorter but water-limited "dry route."

Logo Indicates Certified Santa Fe Trail Sites
Sites on the National Register of Historic Places are noted (NRHP)
National Historic Landmarks are noted (NHL)

Source: Santa Fe National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management and Use Plan, May, 1990

Santa Fe Trail Site Description

Pawnee Rock
(Wet route)
(NRHL) Pawnee Rock is 0.5 mile north of US Highway 56 on the north edge of the town of Pawnee Rock, Kansas. Pawnee Rock was one of the best known natural features along the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas. One can still enjoy panoramic views across the prairie from this relatively high landmark. Its is administered by the Kansas State Historical Society.

Ash Creek Crossing
(Wet Route) The Ash Creek crossing is 5 miles southwest of Pawnee Rock. This was not a difficult crossing, but nonetheless it developed into a campsite for Trail travelers. This site is historically significant because Susan Shelby Magoffin's carriage upset here and she later miscarried as a result of the accident.

Pawnee Fork Crossings
(Wet Route and Dry Route)
46K
There were three crossings of the Pawnee Fork. One, the west rout or River Road crossing, was on the south edge of the present town of Larned, Kansas. The second, the dry route crossing, was on the west edge of the present Larned State Hospital grounds. The third, apparently established as a stage line crossing, was approximately 0.5 mile east of the present site of Fort Larned National Historic Site. The wet route crossing is no longer visible. The dry route crossing may still be seen as crossed by means of a small bridge. It was a difficult crossings at times and a campsite was developed there.

A mail and stage station was located at this crossing in 1859 and this led to the establishment of Fort Larned, first located nearer this crossing than the present military post. Just west of the crossing was a trading ranch, Boyd's Ranch, which was just off the Fort Larned Military Reservation and thus could provide off-post entertainment in the form of liquor, gambling, and prostitutes.. The bulk of the Trail traffic likely used the dry route crossing where Boyd's Ranch was located.

Santa Fe Trail Center
31K 2 miles west of Larned on the south side of Kansas Hwy 156

This museum contains exhibits, archives, and artifacts from Trail days and other periods of regional history. A library is available for researchers.

Fort Larned National Historic Site (NHL)
26K

3 3K

36K
Fort Larned National Historic Site is on Kansas Highway 156, 6 miles west of Larned. Active from 1859 to 1878, Fort Larned was on of the major military installations on the Santa Fe Trail (only Fort Union in New Mexico was larger). Nine of the ten original stone buildings remain today and the tenth was reconstructed in 1988.. This is one of the best preserved frontier military posts in the American West, as well as on the entire Santa Fe Trail. One building has been adapted to serve as museum, interpretive center and administrative office. A set of Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts is located in a detached area five miles south of the Fort.

Coon Creek Crossing and Battlefield
(Dry Route)
40K The Coon Creek Crossing is just north of US Highway 56, about 1.5 miles west of the town of Garfield Kansas. Wagon ruts are still visible on the north bank of the creek.

Return to Map #4: Lyons, Kansas to Dodge City, Kansas

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Santa Fe Trail Site	Description
Pawnee Rock (Wet route) (NRHL)	Pawnee Rock is 0.5 mile north of US Highway 56 on the north edge of the town of Pawnee Rock, Kansas. Pawnee Rock was one of the best known natural features along the Santa Fe Trail in Kansas. One can still enjoy panoramic views across the prairie from this relatively high landmark. Its is administered by the Kansas State Historical Society.
Ash Creek Crossing (Wet Route)	The Ash Creek crossing is 5 miles southwest of Pawnee Rock. This was not a difficult crossing, but nonetheless it developed into a campsite for Trail travelers. This site is historically significant because Susan Shelby Magoffin's carriage upset here and she later miscarried as a result of the accident.
Pawnee Fork Crossings (Wet Route and Dry Route) 46K	There were three crossings of the Pawnee Fork. One, the west rout or River Road crossing, was on the south edge of the present town of Larned, Kansas. The second, the dry route crossing, was on the west edge of the present Larned State Hospital grounds. The third, apparently established as a stage line crossing, was approximately 0.5 mile east of the present site of Fort Larned National Historic Site. The wet route crossing is no longer visible. The dry route crossing may still be seen as crossed by means of a small bridge. It was a difficult crossings at times and a campsite was developed there. A mail and stage station was located at this crossing in 1859 and this led to the establishment of Fort Larned, first located nearer this crossing than the present military post. Just west of the crossing was a trading ranch, Boyd's Ranch, which was just off the Fort Larned Military Reservation and thus could provide off-post entertainment in the form of liquor, gambling, and prostitutes.. The bulk of the Trail traffic likely used the dry route crossing where Boyd's Ranch was located.
Santa Fe Trail Center 31K	2 miles west of Larned on the south side of Kansas Hwy 156 This museum contains exhibits, archives, and artifacts from Trail days and other periods of regional history. A library is available for researchers.
Fort Larned National Historic Site (NHL) 26K 3 3K 36K	Fort Larned National Historic Site is on Kansas Highway 156, 6 miles west of Larned. Active from 1859 to 1878, Fort Larned was on of the major military installations on the Santa Fe Trail (only Fort Union in New Mexico was larger). Nine of the ten original stone buildings remain today and the tenth was reconstructed in 1988.. This is one of the best preserved frontier military posts in the American West, as well as on the entire Santa Fe Trail. One building has been adapted to serve as museum, interpretive center and administrative office. A set of Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts is located in a detached area five miles south of the Fort.
Coon Creek Crossing and Battlefield (Dry Route) 40K	The Coon Creek Crossing is just north of US Highway 56, about 1.5 miles west of the town of Garfield Kansas. Wagon ruts are still visible on the north bank of the creek.