La Junta Santa Fe Trail Marker - Otero County Courthouse - La Junta, Co. - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

This is a grey granite marker is located in the southeast corner of the Otero County Courthouse - 13 W Third. The text reads:

Santa Fe Trail
1822 - 1875
Marked by the Arkansas Valley Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution
1908
of Pueblo, Colo.

From the Sites of La Junta on the Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway:
(visit link)

"The marker was placed at La Junta's Court House Square. On Colorado 194 go west to La Junta. Turn south and cross the Arkansas River bridge. The Santa Fe Trail crossed to the south side of the river about six miles west of Bent's Old Fort, near present La Junta. The Marker is on the southeast corner of La Junta's Court House Square, facing south. It is similar to one in Las Aminas. This marker was donated in 1906 by the Daughters of the American Revolution of the State of Colorado."

Road of Trail Name: Santa Fe Trail State: Colorado County: Otero Historical Significance: This marks the location of the trail through the area before the town of La Junta was founded. 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/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: Southeast corner of the Otero County Courthouse - 13 W Third in La Junta.

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