Pick an article and learn more about some of the key places along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. These articles provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the significance of these sites. Written by students at the University of New Mexico, you might find a new perspective on a part of history.
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Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Article 1: University of New Mexico Student Essay: Mahaffie House
Located in northeastern Kansas just southwest of Independence, Missouri, the Mahaffie farmstead was an important stage stop along the Santa Fe Trail where travelers stocked up for their journey westward. The house is a rare historical structure with good integrity and enough space to accommodate the visiting public who desire a taste of Kansas's pioneer spirit. Read more
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Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Article 2: University of New Mexico Student Essay: La Cueva Historic District
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, the small Hispanic village of La Cueva played an important role in commerce along the Santa Fe Trail. Yet La Cueva was used for more than just trade—people lived, worked, and worshiped there. The site consists of several structures: the two-story Romero Hacienda, a grist mill, a mercantile building, the church of San Rafael, stables, a farm, some acequías (irrigation ditches), and a few outbuildings. Read more
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Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Article 3: University of New Mexico Student Essay: San Miguel del Vado Historic District
San Miguel del Vado ('Saint Michael of the Ford') was an important crossing of the Pecos River along the Santa Fe Trail. Located east of Santa Fe, the village served as the seat of San Miguel County until 1860 when the title was transferred to the rapidly growing community of Las Vegas, New Mexico. Read more
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Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Article 4: University of New Mexico Student Essay: Lanesfield School
Lanesfield School is a one-room schoolhouse near Edgerton, Kansas, that was established in 1869. The school is representative of the one-room schoolhouses that served much of rural America during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is considered the last building standing from the now-defunct town of Lanesfield, a mail stop along the Santa Fe Trail and Pony Express. Read more