Pioneer Park in Kansas City

Pioneer Park in Kansas City, Missouri

Photo/LarryShort

Quick Facts

Location:

4059 Broadway, Kansas City, MO

Significance:

The park features a bronze statue of three Santa Fe Trail figures

MANAGED BY:

Kansas City Parks Department

Amenities

2 listed

Benches/Seating, Wheelchair Accessible

Pioneer Park is in the heart of Westport, now part of Kansas City, which was by the late 1840s to early 1850s, superseded Independence as the main outfitting location for the Santa Fe trail. The park features a bronze statue, standing nine-and-a-half feet tall, of three historical figures important to the founding of Westport and the Santa Fe Trail.  

The figure on the West side is Alexander Majors who was known as “the great freighter” because of his many business ventures including operating a major freighting company on the Santa Fe Trail and partnering to create the Pony Express. The middle figure is John Calvin McCoy who platted the town of Westport in 1835 and was involved with trade and outfitting on the Santa Fe Trail. The figure on the East side is James Bridger, a famed mountain man whose expeditions paved the way for US westward expansion.  

The statue was designed by Tom Beard and dedicated October 10, 1987.  

Site Information

Location (4059 Broadway, Kansas City, MO)

Available Facilities
The park sits in a median at Broadway Blvd. & Westport Rd. The small park features a few park benches and small plats of grass. It is in the middle of a historic commercial area. The feature of the park is the bronze The Pioneers statue which sits on a sand-colored base. front of the statues are three informational plaques.

Safety Considerations

More site information

Exhibit Audio Description available

Santa Fe National Historic Trail

• Kansas City - Trail Economy Exhibit Audio Description

  
  

  Listen to the audio description of the Kansas City, Trail Economy exhibit.

  Date created:

  06/28/2021

  Audio 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.

  End of Text

  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.

  End of Text

  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.

  End of Text

  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.