Santa Fe Trail - Cimmaron, Kansas Trail Map Marker
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iconions
N 37° 47.983 W 100° 20.993
14S E 381159 N 4184451
This is a red granite marker in Cimarron Crossing Park just south of Cimarron, Kansas on K-23.
Waymark Code: WM59M8
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2008
Views: 18
This handsome red granite marker is in a very large park north of the Arkansas River and south of the town of Cimarron, Kansas. A map of the Santa Fe Trail showing both the Mountain Route and the Cimarron Cut-off is at the top of the marker.
This undated marker reads:
Travellers of the Santa Fe Trail had a choice to make at this point. Southwest from here cut off many miles to Santa Fe N.M., but a waterless place frequented by hostile Indians presented a formidable hazard. (The longer route via Trinidad followed water & was safer). The point of crossing the Arkansas River varied both east and west of this point depending on the condition of the river.
This marker erected by the Cimarron Business & Professional Women's Club
Road of Trail Name: Santa Fe Trail
State: Kansas
County: Gray
Historical Significance:
This was the site of one of the major river crossings for the Cimarron Cut-off.
Years in use: 1822 to 1880
How you discovered it:
I started following a book called "Following the Santa Fe Trail - A Guide for Modern Travellers" This guidebook gives the locations of the significant sites of the trail and the background stories. It is a good read even if you aren't following the trail.
Book on Wagon Road or Trial:
Following the Santa Fe Trail - A Guide for Modern Travellers by Marc Simmons and Hal Jackson
Website Explination:
Following the Santa Fe Trail - A Guide for Modern Travellers by Marc Simmons and Hal Jackson
Why?:
From the National Park Service website:
http://www.nps.gov/safe/historyculture/index.htm
Between 1821 and 1880, the Santa Fe Trail was primarily a commercial highway connecting Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. From 1821 until 1846, it was an international commercial highway used by Mexican and American traders. In 1846, the Mexican-American War began. The Army of the West followed the Santa Fe Trail to invade New Mexico. When the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war in 1848, the Santa Fe Trail became a national road connecting the United States to the new southwest territories. Commercial freighting along the trail continued, including considerable military freight hauling to supply the southwestern forts. The trail was also used by stagecoach lines, thousands of gold seekers heading to the California and Colorado gold fields, adventurers, fur trappers, and emigrants. In 1880 the railroad reached Santa Fe and the trail faded into history.
Directions:
The marker is in Cimarron Crossing Park - approximately 1/2 mile south of the Junction of US-50 and K-23. The marker is near the large shelterhouse to the south.
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Visit Instructions:
To post a log for this Waymark the poster must have a picture of either themselves, GPSr, or mascot. People in the picture with information about the waymark are preferred. If the waymarker can not be in the picture a picture of their GPSr or mascot will qualify. There are no exceptions to this rule.