Santa Fe Trail
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 36° 27.419 W 103° 10.251
13S E 663908 N 4036191
Quick Description: It starts on the banks of the Missouri River in St. Charles, called the "Boone's Lick Trail", which goes to Franklin, MO; then the Santa Fe Trail takes over and led pioneers to their dreams.
Location: New Mexico, United States
Date Posted: 7/9/2009 9:01:26 AM
Waymark Code: WM6QMD
Views: 2
Long Description:
marker Erected by: New Mexico Official Scenic Historic
Marker.
County of Marker: Union County.
Location of Marker: US-64, roadside turnout, E. limits,
Clayton.
Marker Text:
SANTA FE TRAIL
Marker Front:
William Bucknell, the first Santa Fe Trail trader, entered Santa Fe
in 1821 after Mexico became independent from Spain and opened its
frontier to foreign traders. The Mountain Branch over Raton Pass
divided here. One fork turned to Cimaron, then south and joined a
more direct route to Ravado.
Marker Back:
The difficulty of bringing caravans over rocky and mountainous
Raton Pass kept most wagon traffic on the Cimarron Cutoff of the
Santa Fe Trail until the 1840's. Afterwards, the Mountain Branch,
which here approaches Raton Pass, became more popular with traders,
immigrants, gold-seekers, and government supply trains.
A chronological view of the trail:
William
Becknell