Santa Fe Trail, near Holly, Colorado - Colorado Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

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"The marking of the old Santa Fe Trail was first suggested to the Daughters at the State conference in Ottawa in 1902 by Fannie Geiger Thompson (Mrs. A. H.), Kansas State Regent. By the time they had the next conference, the hand of death took Mrs. Thompson to a Heavenly home. Daughters of Kansas regarded the marking of the trail as a sacred legacy left by Mrs. Thompson, and voted to go to work at once to under take completion of her dream. It proved to be quite an undertaking as the marking of the trail involved the placement of ninety-six granite stones across the 500 mile route in Kansas. The Old Santa Fe Trail became a definite way across the states of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. The Kansas Daughters were the first to mark the old Trail and the Daughters of Missouri, Colorado, and New Mexico followed their example. The story of marking the trail is told in a book called "The story of the Marking of the Santa Fe Trail" published in 1913 and written by Mrs. T.A. Cordry, State Historian of Kansas Daughters of the American Revolution. Parts of the story are taken from letters of the old settlers to Mrs. Stanley, State Regent, and Miss Meeker, and every bit of it is true and authentic.

In placing this in book form, we hope to keep the memory of the old Trail alive, so that our children need never inquire, "Where is it?"- Mrs. T. A. Cordry, State Historian, Kansas Daughters of the American Revolution.

Our Colorado Santa Fe Trail DAR markers began conception in 1906 and were completed in 1912 with the last one unveiled at Bent's Old Fort. The marker was given by Mr. A.E. Reynolds of Denver, owner of the land where Bent's Old Fort is located. A committee consisting of one member from each chapter in the state was called upon to ask the legislature for $2,000 to aid in the project. State Legislature appropriated the $2,000 as requested and upon completion, the Colorado Daughters returned $600 to them after paying all the bills. Twenty seven stones were set with funds furnished by the state of Colorado, the Santa Fe Railroad, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad; the city council of Trinidad gave $500, and many citizens along the route contributed. Daughters from all of the Colorado cities came to the ceremonies in their most modern conveyances, the automobile, but fourteen old timers of Las Animas came in one of the old stage coaches which actually traveled the Santa Fe Trail in 1858. There are now thirty six of these historic granite stone markers on the actual route that the wagons traveled on the Santa Fe Trail in Colorado.

To learn more about the marking of the Santa Fe Trail Markers in Colorado there is a "little blue book" by Mary E. Gamble, Colorado State DAR Librarian (1985-1987) and Leo Gamble called "Santa Fe Trail Markers in Colorado." This book was published in 1987 and can be purchased from Colorado DAR chapters. It is a must have for sleuthing the DAR markers on the Santa Fe Trail Mountain Branch and the photos are a real treat. We thank the creators of this book and it's contributions to keeping the legacy of the Santa Fe Trail Mountain Branch alive. We recognize Mary and Leo Gamble for the directions to our Mountain Branch DAR markers and Mrs. Frank S. Crane, Jr., Colorado State DAR regent (1983-1985) for the their pioneer spirit and perseverance in the quest of locating these markers. Mrs. Crane and Mrs. Gamble spent more than two years searching for all of the Santa Fe Trail DAR markers on our Scenic Byway. These precious stone jewels placed across the Santa Fe Trail by the Colorado DAR will be followed and preserved for ever."

Group or Groups Responsible for Placement: Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Colorado County or City: Prowers County Date Dedicated: 1908 Check here for Web link(s) for additional information: [Web Link]

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