South Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

James Beckwourth

Fur Trapper and Trail Blazer

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

1. James Beckwourth Marker

Inscription. James P. Beckwourth (1798-1866) was born in Virginia in 1798 to a slave mother and a white father. His father brought James as a child to Missouri, and soon released him from slavery. Beckwourth, on the first of his several trips from Missouri to the West, joined William Ashley's 1823 fur trapping expedition up the Missouri River. By 1848 Beckwourth was in California at the start of the Gold Rush. He improved an existing Native American path, later named the Beckwourth Trail, and used it to lead the first intact wagon train into California during the Gold Rush.

In later life, Beckwourth returned to the trapping that he had learned so well in the Rocky Mountains, dying in 1866.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1798.

Location. 38° 55.527′ N, 94° 34.421′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. It is in South Kansas City. It is on East Red Bridge Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1406 E Red Bridge Rd, Kansas City MO 64131,

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United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

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: Amache Prowers (a few steps from this marker); Jim Bridger (within shouting distance of this marker); Alexander Majors (within shouting distance of this marker); Kit Carson (within shouting distance of this marker); Hiram Young (within shouting distance of this marker); Trails Before Highways (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); River Crossings and Red Bridges (about 500 feet away); Trail Hazards (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Also see . . . James Beckwourth on Wikipedia. Some sources say he died in 1867. (Submitted on June 6, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

2. James Beckwourth Marker

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

3. James Beckwourth Marker

Marker is one of many on the Red Bridge Road posts.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 373 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 6, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.