Santa Fe Trail Postcard Activity (U.S. National Park Service)

Two postcards. One showing the front with a photo of an adobe ruin on it. The second with a message about the Santa Fe Trail. — Example of a postcard created using the fillable template with a photo of Pecos National Historical Park
Photo/NPS

Mail was an important form of communication for Santa Fe Trail travelers. They would write letters to their loved ones, to friends, and to business partners. Some historical letters provide descriptions of the trail, the food travelers ate, the animals they saw, and the goods they transported in their wagons.

Now, it’s your turn! Use this postcard template to write to a friend or family member about the Santa Fe Trail. Visit nps.gov/safe to explore the people, places, and stories of the trail!

To ensure that your postcard can be delivered, make sure you print the template on cardstock or poster board. If you only have printer paper, you can mail your postcard in an envelope.

Activity Options

You can either draw a Santa Fe Trail scene on your postcard or use our fillable template to upload your favorite trail photo to the postcard.

Steps for a postcard with a drawing

Print the postcard template on cardstock or poster board
- If you don’t have cardstock or poster board, print on regular paper
- Be sure to select “print on both sides” so your postcard has a front and back side
Front side:
- Draw a picture of a Santa Fe Trail site or scene. Be creative!
Back side:
- On the left side, write a message to your friend or loved one about what you learned about the Santa Fe Trail
- On the right side, write the name and address of your friend or loved one
Cut out your postcard
If you used cardstock or posterboard, add your stamp to the box that says, “Add Stamp Here”
- If you used printer paper, place your postcard in an envelope and add your stamp to the top right side.
Mail your postcard!

Steps for a postcard with a photo

for postcard with a photo

Open the fillable postcard template in a PDF reader
Front Side:
- Click on the image icon on the front of the postcard and choose the image you want on your postcard
Back Side:
- On the left side, type a message to your friend or loved one about what you learned about the Santa Fe Trail
- On the right side, type the name and address of your friend or loved one
Print the postcard template on cardstock or poster board
- If you don’t have cardstock or poster board, print on regular paper
- Be sure to select “print on both sides” so your postcard has a front and back side
If you used cardstock or posterboard, add your stamp to the box that says, “Add Stamp Here”
- If you used printer paper, place your postcard in an envelope and add your stamp to the top right side.
Mail your postcard!