Discover a Hidden History
Welcome to Waynesville's lush Laughlin Park, along the banks of the historic Roubidoux Creek. Along with its beauty and recreational opportunities, this place also played a part in one of the most tragic periods in American history, the Trail of Tears.
From 1837 to 1839, the US government forced the Cherokee and four other Indian nations to leave their homelands and relocate to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Cherokee who had been driven from their homes in the East passed through this area on the Trail of Tears, and some camped along Roubidoux Creek in what is now Laughlin Park.
As you explore this one-mile trail, look for exhibits to learn more about the Trail of Tears and the history of this area.
[Balance of marker is informational, not historical]
Erected 2015 by National Park Service, City of Waynesville, and Pulaski County Tourism Bureau.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.
Location. 37° 49.571′ N, 92° 12.189′ W. Marker is in Waynesville, Missouri, in Pulaski County. It is on Superior Road south of Old U.S. Route 66 (Business
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Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Trail of Tragedy (within shouting distance of this marker); A Resting Place for the Weary (within shouting distance of this marker); What is the Trail of Tears? (within shouting distance of this marker); A Road Through History (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Waynesville Fort (about 800 feet away); Rigsby House and Standard Oil Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Frigid Crossing (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pulaski County (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waynesville.
Also see . . .
1. Laughlin Park & Roubidoux Spring. City of Waynesville website entry (Submitted on February 10, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Trail of Tears Association president Jack Baker talked about the forced relocation of Native Americans in the early 19th century. Mr. Baker, a member of the Cherokee Nation, also discussed his own family's involuntary move to Oklahoma.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 465 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 16, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on October 17, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 4. submitted on July 6, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
