Near Lakin in Kearny County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Chouteau's Island
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 11, 2012
1. Chouteau's Island Marker
In the spring of 1816 Auguste P. Chouteau's hunting party traveling east with a winter's catch of furs was attacked near the Arkansas river by 200 Pawnees. Retreating to what was once an island five miles southwest of this marker the hunters beat them off with the loss of only one man. In 1825 increased travel on the Santa Fe trail brought a government survey and Chouteau's island was listed as a turning off place for the dangerous "Jornada" to the Cimarron. For a time the river here was the Mexican boundary. When Maj. Bennett Riley and four companies of infantry, serving as the first military escort on the trail, arrived in 1829 with a west-bound wagon train the troops went into camp near the island. They spent the summer fighting off Indians, losing several men and part of their oxen. The return from Santa Fe of the caravan with a Mexican escort was celebrated in a colorful exchange of military inspections.
Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 82.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Native Americans
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Location. 37° 56.636′ N, 101° 17.05′ W. Marker is near Lakin, Kansas, in Kearny County. Marker is on U.S. 50/400, 0.1 miles west of Country Heights Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is at a roadside turnout at Louck Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lakin KS 67860, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Santa Fe Trail (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named Santa Fe Trail (approx. 1˝ miles away); The White House (approx. 1˝ miles away); Site of O'Loughlin's Trading Post (approx. 1˝ miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); Santa Fe Trail Ruts (approx. 5.8 miles away); a different marker also named Santa Fe Trail (approx. 8.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lakin.
Also see . . .
1. Santa Fe National Historic TRail. (Submitted on June 7, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Santa Fe Trail Association
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, June 27, 2023
2. Chouteau's Island Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 11, 2012
3. Chouteau's Island Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,690 times since then and 180 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 7, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on July 4, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 3. submitted on June 7, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
