County of marker: Howard County
Location of marker: Plaza in center of E. Broadway, New Franklin
Marker Erected By: Daughters of the Revolution
Date Erected: 1913
Mile Marker zero, end of trail
Book details:
The Boone's Lick Road,
A Brief History and Guide to a Missouri Treasure
Paperback – August 3, 2012
by Hal Jackson (Author), Ron Kil (Illustrator)
The trace was created by Nathan and Daniel Morgan Boone. Brothers, and sons of the historic and famous Daniel Boone. The trace they used became a trail, then became a road. The stage coaches used this road, and the Daughters of the American Revolution marked it with Missouri Pink Granite markers in 1913. For an example of this marker see photo galley.
Marker Text:
The Boone's Lick Road
Beyond the Mississippi
The Boone's Lick Road was the first to bring settlers deep into the heart of the great Louisiana Purchase from early settlements west of the Mississippi River. It bore the nation's constant westward push, extending by 1816 to the Boonslick Country and the frontier boom town of Franklin, near where you are standing now.
The Boone's Lick Road preceded its more famous extension, the Santa Fe Trail. It evolved in segments between St. Charles and Franklin and the area around the famed lick. Though it was well established as far as Howard County by 1816, it had many early variations on the east and at least three major variations on the west. In later decades it guided the way for U.S. Highway 40 and U.S. Interstate 70.
Alive Yesterday
Immense numbers of wagons, carriages, carts, etc. with families have for some time past been daily arriving. During the month of October it is stated that no less than 271 wagons, four-wheeled carriages and 55 two-wheeled carriages and carts passed near St. Charles, bound principally for Boon's Lick.
~ Franklin Missouri Intelligencer, Nov. 19, 1819
Boon's Lick was the common centre of hopes, and the common point of union for the people. Ask one of them whither he was moving, and the answer was, "To Boon's Lick, to be sure."
~ Timothy Flint, 1826
And Alive Today
To explore the Boone's Lick Road, visit site highlighted at right. Or visit the locations below to get more information about the Historic route:
• St. Charles Co., Historical Society, St. Charles
• Warren County Historical Society, Warrenton
• Daniel Boone Home & Heritage Ctr., Defiance
• Crane's Museum & Country Store, Williamsburg
• Kingdom of Callaway Historical Soc., Fulton
• State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia
• Boone County Historical Society, Columbia
• South Howard County Historical Museum, New Franklin
• Arrow Rock State Historic Site & Visitor Center, Arrow Rock
• Missouri State Archive, Jefferson City