Last updated: January 10, 2023
Place
Conn Store, Council Grove
Quick Facts
Location:
131 W Main St Council Grove, KS
Significance:
One of the most important trading posts in Council Grove during the heyday of the Santa Fe Trail
Designation:
Certified Site
Built in 1858 by local merchant Malcolm Conn, the Conn Store was one of the two most important trading posts in Council Grove during the Santa Fe Trail days. It shared the business provided by trail travelers, the Kansa (Kaw) Indians, and later, by local settlers.
For traders on the Santa Fe Trail after 1858, the Conn Store was a welcome sight. At the store, traders heading east from Santa Fe to “the States” could purchase a meal or sleep in a bed for the first time after crossing 625 miles of prairie. For those heading southwest, Council Grove was one of the last major stops for supplies and amenities before travelers trekked to New Mexico.
This store was one of the most important trading posts in Council Grove during the heyday of the Santa Fe Trail, the Kaw Reservation, and the early settlement of Morris County. The Conn Store has been added on to and remodeled over the years. The outline of the original store is defined by the light-colored stone on the building's west side. The building is no longer standing but you can learn more from the exhibit at the site.
Site Information
Location (131 W Main St. Council Grove, Kansas 66846)