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De
Bourgmont’s Route
In 1724, French Explorer M. De Bourgmont, roamed the far-reached areas
of the previously unexplored territory of Kansas with in depth investigation.
His travels carried him from the village of the Kanzas Indians on the
Missouri, near the today’s city of Atchinson, to the village of the Padoucas,
near the Smoky Hills. A detailed description of his accounts were kept
in a personal diary and later published verbatim in 1757 in M. Le Page
Du Pratz’s “History of Louisiana”. (top)
Chisholm
Trail
Shortly after the Civil War, millions of longhorns were left in disorder
on the plains of Texas without a market. This historic cattle trail was
created in order to move those cattle the incredible distance from northern
Texas to Abilene, near central Kansas. The first drives began in 1867
and during the next five years, more than one million head were received
for market.(top)
Coronado’s
Route
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado advanced north from the Rio Grande valley
to Kansas in 1541 accompanied by 36 soldiers and Father Juan de Padilla.
The mission was sparked by misleading stories told by the local Texas
Indians describing Quivira Kansas as an extravagant kingdom of gold. Upon
arrival, they found no gold but were pleased with the amount of rich land
available to farm.(top)
Fremont’s
Route
James C. Fremont’s second expedition followed a southern route along the
Kansas and Republican Rivers before joining the Oregon Trail. This diversion
occurred near Sweetwater River and began further exploration from South
Pass to Fort Vancouver. (top)
Lane
Trail and Underground Railroad
Established by James H. Lane in 1856, the Lane Trail bypassed proslavery
strongholds in Missouri and offered a safe route for free-state settlers
entering Kansas. Marked by rock piles known as “Lane’s chimneys,” the
trail also served as part of the underground railroad, used by John Brown
and others to transport slaves north to freedom. (top)
Lewis
and Clark Trail
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson organized a mission to find an easy
water passage to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark were chosen for this
expedition and also expected to gather scientific information about the
uncharted area’s plants and animals. On July 4, 1804, Lewis and Clark
camped for three days just east of Atchinson, Kansas. (top)
Military
Roads
Military Roads established in Kansas were imperative for transporting
supplies and linking communications. (top)
Oregon-California
Trail
From the 1830s to the 1870s, a great 2,000-mile road connected Missouri’s
river towns with California and Oregon. Several routes mixed into one
single trail by the time Fort Kearny was reached. One of these trails
began in Kansas City where a great campground was located. Several fine
springs marked the area and Scott spring still offers the “delicious cold
water” mentioned by one traveler in 1846. (top)
Pike’s
Trail
In 1806, Zebulon Pike led an expedition that ranged from Leavenworth,
Kansas to Denver, Colorado. The Pawnee Indian Village was believed to
have been visited by Pike in 1808 and is commemorated by a stone marker.
His name is most commonly known for the Peak in the Rockies that now bears
his name.(top)
Pony
Express
In 1860 and 1861, the Pony Express operated like a relay race delivering
mail between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. Young,
thin males were hired for the purpose of carrying mail across the west
on horseback for hundreds of miles. This transportation improved the speed
of communication by 66% over the pace of stagecoach delivery. This process
was soon put out of operation by the electrical transcontinental telegraph.(top)
Railroads
The introduction of the railroads across Kansas was not a welcome event
among local Indians. In frustration and anger, they frequently tore up
tracks and attacked railroad crews causing harm and multiple deaths. In
1867, the railroad reached a construction camp and watering station named
Fossil. The name was later changed to Russell in 1871 when a Wisconsin
colony established the town.(top)
Santa
Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail is well known even today due to its great importance
to settlement and trade from the 1820s to the 1870s. This immensely popular
route carried many travelers over 750 miles from the Kansas City area
to the old Spanish settlement of Santa Fe. For more than 500 miles, the
road lay in Kansas, driving southwest through historical areas such as
Council Grove and Pawnee Rock. The ruts created my numerous wagon wheels
can still be viewed in this area today.(top)
Smoky
Hill Trail
As citizens lined up in an avid rush to reach the gold fields of Denver,
the Smoky Hill Trail was created to carry these eager fortune seekers.
As numbers increased of those following this route along the Smoky Hill
river, some saw this as an opportunity for entrepreneurship. Relay stations
were built every twelve miles for passenger’s comfort. In 1870 this stage
line was no longer needed due to the advancement in the railroad industry.(top)
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