Paola in Miami County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Potawatomi Indians Trail of Death
Indiana to Kansas
| | September 3, 1838 to November 4, 1838 | |
Photographed by Kira Chenoa Lisle, May 17, 2026
1. The Potawatomi Indians Trail of Death Marker
This monument commemorates the Bulltown (Paola) encampment, November 3, 1838, of the Potawatomi Indians on their 610 mile forced removal trek from their home in Indiana to Linn County, Kansas over 850 Potawatomi were forced to leave Indiana at gunpoint, most of them walking the entire distance on foot over a period of 61 days in the fall of 1838. Over 40 Potawatomi lost their lives during the grueling trek. This memorial is dedicated to the Potawatomi Indians who made the journey.
Erected 1995 by The Miami County Historical Society, INC.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is September 3, 1838.
Location. 38° 34.335′ N, 94° 52.684′ W. Marker is in Paola, Kansas, in Miami County. It is on Pearl Street north of West Wea Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker lies in Park Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7 W Peoria St, Paola KS 66071, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas, specifically in Bleeding Kansas Border War Country, and in Greater Kansas City. 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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Paola Veterans' Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Baptiste & Mary Ann Peoria (within shouting distance of this marker); City Hall Fire Bell (about
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Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2026, by Kira Chenoa Lisle of Griffith, Indiana. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on May 18, 2026, by Kira Chenoa Lisle of Griffith, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Verification of the geocoordinates. • A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?
