Text of the marker:
Near this point John McCoy built a log trading post in 1833 which launched the settlement of Westport, with the town becoming the westernmost point of American civilization. From Westport, the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon Trails reached out as tentacles of the nation's growth, extending to the Pacific Coast and into Mexico. Westport's street's, shops and hotels bustled with traders, trappers, missionaries, Indians and gold prospectors forging west. Kit Carson, Jim Bridger and John Sutter were among those of Westport who earned a place in history.
Across the street north was Harris House, a hotel whose roof was used as an observation post in 1864 by General Samuel Curtis during the Battle of Westport as his Union forces engaged Confederate troops commanded by General Sterling Price.
The Westport Historical Society
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Grant
From the Westport Historical Society website:
(
visit link)
Seizing on a perfect opportunity, the Reverend Isaac McCoy brought his wife Christiana and their family to the Western area on December 28, 1831. Isaac came to this area as a Baptist Missionary to the Indians. A large log house was built as the McCoy home on a hill now the site of St. Luke's Hospital. With the family was their 19 year old son, John Calvin McCoy, who was destined to become the founder of Westport and one of the fourteen co-founders of the Town of Kansas, now Kansas City, Missouri.
Prior to the arrival of the McCoy family the Daniel Yoacham family came from Tennessee and built a log house that became the first hostelry and tavern. It was located on the northwest corner at the intersection of Westport Road and Mill Street. At that time a stream called Spring Branch ran south through the area.
By 1833 young McCoy had built a two-story log building on the northeast corner of Westport Road and Pennsylvania to serve as a business structure and residence. He entered into business with J. P. Hickman and J. H. Flourney to trade with the Indians, the mountain men, and sold supplies to wagon trains going west. After purchasing land from Dr. Johnston Lykins, McCoy platted the town in 1834 and called it Westport. The name likely denoted it as a port of entry to the largely unknown west.
In May 1834, a post office was established as West Port (two words), and John Calvin McCoy was appointed Postmaster. McCoy filed his town plat at the courthouse in Independence on February 13, 1835. Westport was incorporated on February 12, 1857. Lot #1, Block One, of McCoy's plat is the northeast corner of Westport Road and Pennsylvania. This historic site can truly be said to be the birthplace of Kansas City.
All three of the western trails - the California, the Oregon and the Santa Fe passed through the town on present day Westport Road. Prior to the Civil War, Westport prospered as the eastern portal of the western trails. The population probably peaked in 1858 at about 2,000. After the Civil War, Kansas City, which was platted in 1839 by McCoy, became the dominant community and Westport declined. It was annexed to Kansas City in 1897, but a court challenge to the annexation was not settled by the Missouri Supreme Court until 1899.
Today as a part of Kansas City, Westport still retains its own identity. The historical legacy of Old Westport remains with us. Very little original frontier village is left, but the heritage and history of this community shall be preserved.