Simmons Point - Santa Fe Trail - near Overbrook, Kansas - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

This combination marker commemorates the crossing of the Santa Fe Trail on US-56. The tall green marker, placed by the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County, Ks reads:

Santa Fe Trail Crossed Here
D.A.R. marker is near the site of Baden Post Office which had an intermittent existance between 1883 and 1891.

Simmons Point, a stagecoach relay station, was 2 1/2 miles east on the Old Trail.

The D.A.R. marker has the standard Kansas text from 1906.

According to the book, Following the Santa Fe Trail by Marc Simmons, the D.A.R. marker is actually a commemoration of Flag Spring, which, according to the book, was a noted trail landmark located to the north at an unknown location nearby.

Road of Trail Name: Santa Fe Trail State: Kansas County: Douglas Historical Significance: Commemorates a well known spring, Flag Spring, in the area. 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: Wikipedia has an excellent explanation of the trail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_Trail 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: Take US-56 3.5 miles west of Globe, Ks. E100 Rd crosses nearby. The pair of markers are on the south side of the hwy with a pulloff for 1 car. Be careful backing out.

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