Elkhart in Morton County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
La Jornada & Point of Rocks
Courtesy of Elizabeth Winter, November 13, 2011
1. La Jornada & Point of Rocks Marker
Inscription.
La Jornada & Point of Rocks. . The Cimarron Cutoff, or Dry Route, of the old Santa Fe Trail extended southwest from several Arkansas River crossings to the Cimarron River, a distance of 50 to 60 miles. This route was a perilous stretch of arid plains known as La Jornada.
About seven miles north of present-day Elkhart, a rugged bluff known as Point of Rocks overlooked a campground much used by travelers because good water was always available from the nearby Middle Spring of the Cimarron. From here, the trail continued on to Santa Fe, following the river and other landmarks.
William Becknell, who pioneered commercial use of the train in 1821, and trader Josiah Gregg, author of the classic Commerce of the Prairies, were among those who stopped at Point of Rocks. Many others passed this way, traveling to and from Santa Fe.
Elkhart, one of the youngest towns in Kansas dates to 1912 and the arrival of the Dodge City and Cimarron Valley Railway.
The Cimarron Cutoff, or Dry Route, of the old Santa Fe Trail extended southwest from several Arkansas River crossings to the Cimarron River, a distance of 50 to 60 miles. This route was a perilous stretch of arid plains known as La Jornada.
About seven miles north of present-day Elkhart, a rugged bluff known as Point of Rocks overlooked a campground much used by travelers because good water was always available from the nearby Middle Spring of the Cimarron. From here, the trail continued on to Santa Fe, following the river and other landmarks.
William Becknell, who pioneered commercial use of the train in 1821, and trader Josiah Gregg, author of the classic Commerce of the Prairies, were among those who stopped at Point of Rocks. Many others passed this way, traveling to and from Santa Fe.
Elkhart, one of the youngest towns in Kansas dates to 1912 and the arrival of the Dodge City and Cimarron Valley Railway.
Erected by Kansas Historical Society and Kansas Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 84.)
36° 59.717′ N, 101° 53.864′ W. Marker is in Elkhart, Kansas, in Morton County. Marker is on U.S. 56 west of Trim Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Located at a roadside pulloff. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Elkhart KS 67950, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photo1. submitted on November 16, 2020, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
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