Visit the Trail - West

Visit the Trail - West. Santa Fe National Historic Trail. , A Look Back in Time , The Santa Fe Trail stirs people's imagination. Spanning 900 miles of the Great Plains between the United States (Missouri) and Mexico (Santa Fe), this great trail of commerce between two countries was also a route for the frontier military and emigration to the West. , For 60 years, the trail was one thread in a web of international trade routes. It influenced economies as far away as New York and London. The 1865 close of the Civil War released America's industrial energies and stimulated the push to develop railroads westward. Railroad expansion gradually shortened the Santa Fe Trail - finally replacing it in 1880. , (list of Santa Fe towns and sites:), 1) Boonville , Boonville was platted in 1817 on the south bank of the Missouri River. Boonville residents such as James L. Collins, captain of the 1828 Santa Fe Trail caravan, were involved in the Santa Fe trade. Numerous 19th century structures survive in the town. , 2) Boone's Lick , Daniel Boone's sons, Nathan and Daniel Morgan Boone, set up a salt manufacturing works in 1805 at this salty spring. William Becknell, "Father of the Santa Fe Trail," was a manager here after the War of 18 12. This state historic site was a trail and interpretive exhibits., 3) Arrow Rock , The Arrow Rock bluff appeared on maps beginning in 1732. The Osage Trace, which became the Santa Fe Trail, crossed the Missouri River here. Arrow Rock was a landmark for explorers, traders, and travelers. The town is a national historic landmark and includes a state historic site and visitor center. , 4) Weinrich and Grand Pass Ruts , Impressive eroded ruts are clearly visible where the trail crossed Indian Spring and Harvey Spring, and in the cemetery at Grand Pass behind the Methodist Church. , 5) Waverly , Founded as Middleton, this was one of the earliest towns along the Osage Trace that became the Road to Santa Fe. A DAR marker stands in front of the 1818 Col. John Thomas log house that is being restored as a visitor center., 6) Lexington , Here caravans were outfitted in the 1820s and 1830s. This town was the headquarters of the Aull Brothers and Russell, Majors and Waddell who were major outfitters. A driving tour brochure is available from the tourism office and from the historical museum, which also has displays on the trail. , 7) Fort Osage , Fort Osage, founded in 1808 under the direction of William Clark, primarily served the fur trade with the Osage and other tribes. After Congress abolished this Indian trade in 1822, the fort waned. The fort was a staging area for George Sibley's 1825-27 Santa Fe Trail survey. , 8) Independence , From 1828 until the mid-1840s Independence was the principle point for the Santa Fe traders and emigrants heading west. Many Santa Fe, Oregon and California trail-related sites remain.