Near Highland in Doniphan County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Oregon-California Trail
From the early 1840s to 1865 the Oregon-California Trail was the most important route for settlers traveling west. Wagon trains camped at the Iowa, Sac and Fox Mission to take advantage of the spring and the blacksmith. They were followed in the late 1840s by thousands of fortune seekers bound for the California goldfields.
Here we find a Smith to mend our broken waggon (sic), also we see here a large farm under excellent cultivation with store & schoolhouse where they teach the young indians & learn the old ones how to raise corn. This is a beautiful spot indeed; land rich & rolling, scattered trees, & small groves in the distance. Many fine looking indians here.
John Clark, 1854
The Iowa Point-Fort Leavenworth Trail can be seen on the mission grounds before it joins the St. Joseph Road, a spur of the Oregon-California Trail. The trails merge a quarter mile to the south.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the California Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.
Location. 39° 51.829′ N, 95° 13.761′ W. Marker is near Highland, Kansas, in Doniphan County. Marker is at the Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1737 Elgin Road, Highland KS 66035, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Wolf River Crossing (here, next to this marker); A Manual Training School (a few steps from this marker); An Agricultural Mission (a few steps from this marker); Cooperation and Conflict on the Trail (a few steps from this marker); The Iowa, Sac and Fox Mission (a few steps from this marker); The Highland Presbyterian Mission (a few steps from this marker); The Missionary Movement (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Dangerous Coexistence (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Highland.
Also see . . .
1. Oregon National Historic Trail. (Submitted on October 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. California National Historic Trail. (Submitted on October 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Oregon-California Trails Association. (Submitted on October 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 749 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.