Santa Fe Trail Lone Elm Campground DAR Marker - Olathe, Kansas - Wagon Roads and Trails on Waymarking.com

From the National Parks Service SFT website:
(visit link)

Three miles south of Olathe on Lone Elm Road, on the main branch of the Santa Fe Trail, this was the site of a spring (now enclosed in a small well) and excellent grazing for livestock. The spring was a major campsite for Trail travelers. As time progressed, the "Elm Grove" was cut down by the travelers for firewood, resulting in the name "Lone Elm." Eventually the last tree was also cut down but the name endured.

This marker is located at 167th and Lone Elm Rd south of Olathe, Kansas.

Road of Trail Name: Santa Fe Trail State: Kansas County: Johnson Historical Significance: This location was a major campground before the Mahaffie House was built. Years in use: 1821 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: http://santafetrail.org 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: This marker and campground is located at: 167th & Lone Elm Olathe, Kansas

Visit Instructions:
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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   11/28/2014 wardnkathy visited it