Boone's Lick Road - Loutre Lick Springs - Van Bibber Tavern (1821) - Mineola, MO
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member gparkes
N 38° 53.308 W 091° 34.165
15S E 624073 N 4305372
Loutre Springs marker along the historic Boone's Lick Road.
Waymark Code: WM5TEA
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 02/10/2009
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member cosninocanines
Views: 14

BOONE'S LICK ROAD
Loutre Lick Springs
Van Bibber Tavern (1821)
Marked by the
Daughters of the
American Revolution
and the
State of Missouri
1913

Loutre Springs was home to resorts popped up in the 1820. Famous Missourians such as Thomas Hart Benton and Daniel Morgan Boone used the springs to relieve their ailments. Boone's adopted son, Issac Van Bibber, built a tavern and boarding house in 1821. This became a famous stop along the Boone's Lick Road.

An interesting anecdote that I came across when reading about the site, was that Mr. Van Bibber was an interesting character with some very pecular beliefs. One such belief was of the "transmigration of souls," or that every 6,000 years a cycle would be complete and that everything started over again. One evening when guests from Kentucky seemed to be receptive to listen, Van Bibber's set forth to convert the group. The next morning as the party set to leave, a man stepped forward to say “We were much impressed with your argument last night. Believing that there may be some truth to your doctrine, and being short of cash, we have decided to wait until we come around again at the end of 6,000 years and settle our bill.” “No,” said Van Bibber, “You are the same blamed rascals who were her 6,000 years ago and went away without paying your bills, and now you have to pay before you leave.”



The road originated as an old Indian trace. In the 1764, the first part of the road was expanded by trappers through St. Louis County, Missouri. This part of the road is known as St. Charles Rock Road. The road 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 road from St. Louis to Franklin, Missouri takes its name from the Boone brothers. In 1821, William Becknell established a road 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 wagon roads such as the California and Oregon Trails. The Boone's Lick road is the land route to the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail and carried many of those who would settle the west.

Road of Trail Name: Boone's Lick or Boonslick Road

State: Missouri

County: Montgomery

Historical Significance:
Boone's Lick trail was founded by Nathan and Daniel Morgan Boone, sons of famous frontiersman Daniel Boone. Eventually, the trail was expanded to a road for use with wagon traffic. Used as a western expansion trail and road, eventually becoming a direct road to the start of the Santa Fe Trail.


Years in use: 1808 to 1880's and developed into State and County roads.

How you discovered it:
Reading the book anotated below gave a good overview of the locations of the marker.


Book on Wagon Road or Trial:
"Historic Sites and Markers Along the Mormon and Other Great Western Trails" by Stanley B. Kimball


Website Explination:
State Park information for the end of the trail can be found at: http://mostateparks.com/booneslick.htm As well as about the spring at: http://www.nps.gov/archive/safe/fnl-sft/photos/mopages/saltspg.htm


Why?:
Initially, the Boone's Lick road was originally an Indian-hunting trace. The discovery of a saline spring near Franklin, MO, created a business oportunity for the Boone brothers. They marked the road for passage to and from the salt spring. As westward expansion proceeded, the road was used by thousands going westward. The road was used from St. Louis to New Franklin (re-established after "old" Franklin was destroyed by a flood). From New Franklin, people would gain access to the Santa Fe Trail. This access became the starting point for access to all the major westward expansion roads, the California, Oregon, and Santa Fe, to name a few.


Directions:
From I-70, exit 170 (Danville) go south on County Highway J. Just as you reach the town community, the marker will be on the south side of the road, almost out of sight. Park at the first buildings on the south side of the road and walk back to the marker.


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.

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Recent Visits/Logs:
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Arthur & Trillian visited Boone's Lick Road - Loutre Lick Springs - Van Bibber Tavern (1821) - Mineola, MO 10/09/2016 Arthur & Trillian visited it
YoSam. visited Boone's Lick Road - Loutre Lick Springs - Van Bibber Tavern (1821) - Mineola, MO 09/20/2014 YoSam. visited it

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