Boonville in Cooper County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Water Highway
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 14, 2024
1. Water Highway Marker
Inscription.
Water Highway. Santa Fe National Historic Trail. Rivers were once America's super highways. Westbound riverboats churned by here, hauling American goods - cloth, hardware, paper, mirrors - from St. Louis to the frontier town of (Old) Franklin, once located across the river near the railroad bridge. Traders then coaxed heavily laden mule-drawn wagons over the Santa Fe Trail, journeying for 6 to 7 weeks. Wool, silver coins, and mules were hauled from Mexico. These items, along with harvests from local farmlands, and salt from local mineral springs, were loaded onto riverboats gliding downstream. The area boomed, along with the Santa Fe trade. , But the Missouri River floods. In 1825, floodwaters nearly destroyed Old Franklin. By 1828, the major riverboat landing serving the Santa Fe trade moved upstream to a site near Independence, Missouri, but many traders continued to leave from central Missouri. Boonville traders such as William Harley became commissioning and forwarding agents, hauling westbound goods from St. Louis to the Santa Fe trailhead.
Rivers were once America's super highways. Westbound riverboats churned by here, hauling American goods - cloth, hardware, paper, mirrors - from St. Louis to the frontier town of (Old) Franklin, once located across the river near the railroad bridge. Traders then coaxed heavily laden mule-drawn wagons over the Santa Fe Trail, journeying for 6 to 7 weeks. Wool, silver coins, and mules were hauled from Mexico. These items, along with harvests from local farmlands, and salt from local mineral springs, were loaded onto riverboats gliding downstream. The area boomed, along with the Santa Fe trade.
But the Missouri River floods. In 1825, floodwaters nearly destroyed Old Franklin. By 1828, the major riverboat landing serving the Santa Fe trade moved upstream to a site near Independence, Missouri, but many traders continued to leave from central Missouri. Boonville traders such as William Harley became commissioning and forwarding agents, hauling westbound goods from St. Louis to the Santa Fe trailhead.
Erected by City of Boonville, Harley Park and National Park Service.
Location. 38° 58.421′ N, 92° 45.665′ W. Marker is in Boonville, Missouri, in Cooper County. It is on Harley Lane west of Parkway Drive, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the Lover's Leap section at Harley Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20044 Pearre Ln, Boonville MO 65233, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor. It is also 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: Boone's Lick Country (here, next to this
Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 14, 2024
2. Water Highway Marker
Marker is on the right, overlooking the Missouri River at Lovers Leap
Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 189 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 25, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
