Boone's Lick Road - Cross Keys Tavern (1829) - Jonesburg, MO
Posted by: gparkes
N 38° 51.132 W 091° 18.221
15S E 647196 N 4301742
Cross Keys Tavern waypoint along the historic Boone's Lick Road.
Waymark Code: WM5RDQ
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 02/06/2009
Views: 16
The marker states:
BOONE'S LICK ROAD
Cross Keys Tavern (1829)
Marked by the
Daughters of the
American Revolution
and the
State of Missouri
1913
James Jones, who built the Cross Keys Tavern, was a farmer who came from Rockingham County, Virginia. He rented Widow Bast’s farm. This tavern was an important stage stop in 1829. Later the town of Jonesburg was started. James Jones became the first postmaster in 1828 and the center room of the tavern was the post office. There were no stamps so postage charges were kept in account books which were passed down to members of the family.
The trail originated as an old Indian trace. In the 1764, the first part of the trail was expanded by trappers through St. Louis County, Missouri. This part of the trail is known as St. Charles Rock Road. The trail was expanded by brothers Daniel Morgan and Nathanal Boone, sons of famous frontiersman Daniel Boone, as part of gaining access to salt springs near present day New Franklin, Missouri. The complete trail from St. Louis to Franklin, Missouri takes its name from the Boone brothers. In 1821, William Becknell established a trail from Franklin to Santa Fe, Mexico, there by establishing the Santa Fe Trail. The Santa Fe Trail at Kansas City splits off into other major trail such as the California and Oregon Trails. The Boone's Lick trail is the land route to the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail and carried many of those who would settle the west.
These markers were placed in 1913 by the Daughter's of the American Revolution. The original trail was reported to have markers placed along it every few miles. When the DAR placed these markers, they placed, they were placed where the original markers were along the trail.
Following the trail can give some perspective of how Missouri looked in the 19th century. Asside from modern roads and buildings, once you get outside of the cities, there is a feel for the original topography of the land. The Boone's Lick Road's path can be followed and seen as roads built prior to the I-70's construction. Throughout St. Charles county, the road generally follows MO-94 and County Highway N. As the road progresses through the west, you will see many roads named "Boone's Lick Road" or Boonslick Road" taking the name from the original road paved over.
From this point you the traveler can travel to the west by visiting waypoint WM3XN2 or Lewiston or back towards St. Louis to the east by visiting waypoint WM5RDF or Camp Branch.
Perhaps the best website I have seen giving an understanding of the trail, is from the
LDS church. Their focus is Mormon usage of the trail, but you start to get a feel for the layout of the trail.