Audio
Kansas City - Trail Economy Exhibit Audio Description
Transcript
003 (Grade 6) Slanted Wayside Panel: Trail Economy 517 words / Panel Description: 3.5 minutes
In front of you, is a panel 3 feet wide by 2 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by a half meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. Behind the panel and extending to the right, is a concrete sidewalk. The sidewalk leads to a white farmhouse. To the left, the sidewalk meets a gravel driveway. A gravel parking lot is ahead. There are scattered tall trees throughout the landscape.
Across the top of the panel, is a black banner that lists the partner organizations associated with the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California National Historic Trails. Across the top left side of the panel, is dark text on a light background:
Trail Economy. When Archibald Rice built a farmhouse here in 1844, he knew it was a prime location. The shared route of the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails ran along the west side of his property. Like other local farmers, Rice profited from the trail. He let travelers camp here and sold them produce, bacon, and livestock feed. Later, when the gold rush increased trail traffic, Rice also benefited. In 1849, 30,000 travelers went west on the California Trail to seek their fortune. Many of them passed this way.
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At the top right side of the panel, is a quotation in red text from William Johnston at the Rice farm in spring 1849:
The tide of emigration westward increases, and almost hourly we have fresh evidences of this, as wagon after wagon, some drawn by oxen and others by mules, roll past.
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The panel is filled with a black and white illustration of 6 covered wagons along the trail. The wagon train extends from the lower left corner, across the panel, to the middle of the right side. The wagons have 4 spoked wheels and are pulled by teams of oxen. The round coverings are pulled taut, leaving a small opening at the back. Bundles, baskets, and buckets are tied to the back of the wagon. 7 travelers on horseback flank the wagon train. A few other travelers walk next to the wagons. Most travelers are wearing hats and carrying rifles. 1 traveler in the middle of the right side, faces the others and points toward the left side of the panel. The trail is flat, but the surrounding landscape is hilly. In the distance, on the left side, are 2 people on horseback.
In the bottom right corner, is an inset image of a tan piece of paper covered with gray cursive handwriting. To the left of the image, is white text on a dark background:
The Rice farm profited from the labor of enslaved people, who lived in cabins on site. When Archibald Rice died in 1849, his will left land “and other property” to his wife, Sally. Sally’s inheritance included 4 enslaved people, listed by name.
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The names of the enslaved people are highlighted on the image in red text. They are also superimposed in enlarged white text over the illustration for emphasis: Judith, Lucy Ann, Will, and Sam.
Description
Listen to the audio description of the Kansas City, Trail Economy exhibit.
Date Created
06/28/2021
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