Santa Fe National Historic Trail

National Treasure Visited #3 on Shea’s Ultimate American Quest
First Experienced During Quest On: September 26, 2023

Growing up in Kansas gave me a personal connection to the Sante Fe Traill. It seemed more important in our history studies and stood out more on western television shows and movies. Diving into sites on this Trail was high on my Quest list.

The Santa Fe National Historic Trail is a legendary route that once connected Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico, spanning nearly 900 miles through the heart of the American frontier. Established in 1821, the trail quickly became a vital commercial and cultural link between the United States and Mexico, facilitating trade, migration, and military movements. Traders would load their wagons with goods like cloth and manufactured products in exchange for silver, furs, and mules from the Southwest.

Today, remnants of the trail are preserved through historic markers, museums, and reconstructed trading posts. Rich in history and natural beauty, the Santa Fe Trail remains a testament to American exploration and cultural exchange.

A blue covered wagon with large wooden wheels sits on a grassy field in front of a long building under a partly cloudy sky.

Shea's Videos and Travel Journal Entries Tagged with Santa Fe National Historic Trail

A historic cannon with large wooden wheels is displayed on a wooden platform, set on a grassy field with historical buildings in the background.
Fort Larned National Historic Site
June 21, 2024
An unexpected hidden gem of a national historic site! Like all sites in the national Park system this one is unbelievably well done and even has a full-time blacksmith.
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In the quaint town of Marysville, a small street with red brick pavement is flanked by historic buildings. Wandering past storefronts with large windows and trees rustling gently, cars park along the roadside. The overcast sky hints at faint traces of distant fog, adding to the charm.
Wandering Marysville
October 25, 2023
Marysville is an adorable little town, and I headed out to walk around and see what I could see. I always love finding small towns that have figured out how to make themselves relevant.
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The Last Chance Store is a historic stone house with a gabled roof surrounded by lush greenery. A stone walkway leads to the entrance, and a red brick path is visible in the foreground. A greenhouse in the background sits under a partly cloudy blue sky, with trees providing shade around the scene.
Last Chance Store
October 11, 2023
Unfortunately, the store was locked up, and I couldn't get inside, but at least the windows weren't too bad, and I could see inside. Maybe it'll be open next time.
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A paved road curves alongside a forested area with tall green trees, guiding travelers to the intriguing Hermit's Cave. A brown sign reads "Santa Fe Trail, Hermit's Cave" next to a wooden post and rope barrier. A stone pathway leads to an information board surrounded by rocks and grass. The scene is calm and natural.
Hermit’s Cave
October 11, 2023
Giovanni Maria de Agostini, often called "The Hermit," was an Italian mystic and healer who lived in a cave in Council Grove, Kansas, during the mid-1800s. I had to check out his home.
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A row of old Western-style storefronts and businesses with a wooden sidewalk at Boot Hill Museum, under a partly cloudy sky, with a grassy area and a concrete pathway in the foreground.
Boot Hill Museum
September 29, 2023
Enroute to Wichita, I had to make a stop in Dodge City. While I've been to the Boot Hill Museum a few times, it's still fun to take a step back in time and see what's new.
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A blue Kansas Historical Marker sign titled "Santa Fe Trail Ruts" stands in a grassy field under a clear sky. The sign describes the trail ruts left by 19th-century wagons. A gray mailbox is on the left, and tall grass and brush fill the background.
Charlie’s Ruts on the Santa Fe Trail
September 27, 2023
Walked in the ruts from the wagons that rolled along the famous Santa Fe Trail. It's crazy to think that people walked all the way across the American Plains.
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A Kansas Historical Marker titled "Chouteau's Island" stands on grass under tall trees. This historic site offers details about the island’s role along the Santa Fe Trail, surrounded by park-like green grass and welcoming, scattered shade.
Chouteau’s Island
September 27, 2023
Right by some very well-maintained baseball field and a municipal golf course without a single player on the course.
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A paved path leads to Bent's Old Fort, a large, rectangular adobe structure with high tan walls and small windows. A flag flies over the entrance, while open grass fields and trees surround the fort under a clear blue sky.
Bent’s Old Fort
September 26, 2023
I spent a few hours wandering this amazing national Park service. Reconstruction was very educational and fascinating. Absolutely worth the visit.
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Map showing the Santa Fe Trail from New Mexico to Missouri. Key locations marked include Bent's Old Fort, Fort Larned, and Arrow Rock with notable landmarks like Capulin Volcano and Cimarron. Highways and state boundaries for New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri are visible.
A bronze statue of a rider on a galloping horse is set against a cloudy sky. Tall grasses surround the statue. To the right, an American flag is slightly visible. The scene conveys a sense of motion and the open prairie landscape.
A wooden covered wagon is displayed in a museum exhibit with informational panels and historical photos mounted on it.
A long, single-story stone brick building with a wooden porch and green shutters sits under a partly cloudy sky. A wooden walkway and gravel path run alongside the building.
A dusty courtyard inside Bent's Old Fort, a historic adobe fort, features a wooden cart and covered well. Surrounding walls have wooden railings and small windows. An American flag flies above the main gate under a clear blue sky.
Wagon ruts run through tall, dry, golden grasses on flat open grassland under a clear blue sky. The horizon stretches far into the distance, with no trees or buildings visible except for a single tree near the center.
A Boot Hill museum exhibit showcasing antique firearms with sections labeled "HUNTERSMAN," "BUFFALO HUNTER," and "GAMBLER." Display cases contain various rifles, pistols, and historical notes.
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