Great Bend in Barton County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Santa Fe Trail
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 7, 2024
1. Santa Fe Trail Marker
1822-1872
Erected 1906 by Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Kansas.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Santa Fe Trail series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.
Location. 38° 21.959′ N, 98° 45.888′ W. Marker is in Great Bend, Kansas, in Barton County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 281) just north of Forest Avenue, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located near the northwest corner of the Barton County Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 Main Street, Great Bend KS 67530, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Kansas. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, on the Southern Plains, 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 Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Streetscape (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Jack Kilby (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wild West Superhighway (about 400 feet away); Post Rock & Black Gold (approx. 0.4 miles away); Prey and Play
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Santa Fe Trail Markers - Kansas State Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
Excerpt: In 1902, Kansas Daughters began their dream of service to Kansas history by kicking off a campaign to place markers along the Santa Fe Trail in the state. They secured red granite boulders of varying size for the markers, at a cost of about $16 per boulder.(Submitted on September 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. The story of the marking of the Santa Fe Trail by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Kansas. (Submitted on September 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. The Santa Fe National Historic Trail (National Park Service).
Excerpt: From 1821 until 1846, the Santa Fe Trail was a two-way international commercial highway used by both Mexican and American traders. Then, in 1846, the Mexican-American War began, and a few months later, Americas Army of the West followed the Santa Fe Trail westward to successfully invade Mexico. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended(Submitted on September 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the war in 1848, the Santa Fe Trail became a national road connecting the more settled parts of the United States to the new southwest territories. Commercial freighting along the trail boomed to unheard-of levels, including considerable military freight hauling to supply the southwestern forts. The trail was also used by stagecoach lines, thousands of gold seekers heading to the California and Colorado gold fields, adventurers, missionaries, wealthy New Mexican families and emigrants.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 7, 20242. Santa Fe Trail MarkerLooking southeast from Main Street; Barton County Courthouse is in the background.
4. Santa Fe Trail Association.
Excerpt: In 1821, the Santa Fe Trail became America's first great international commercial highway, and for nearly sixty years thereafter was one of the nation's great routes of adventure and western expansion.(Submitted on September 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 411 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 7, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
