The Maple #2 - Board Game

SANTA FE TRAIL DouglasCounty SANTA FE TRAIL

STory by MArta JArdon & Jenni LeistE | iLlustRation & DeSign by Jenni LeistE

The Santa Fe Trail was the “Super Highway” of commercial trade connecting Missouri to New Mexico in the 1800s. The Trail ran through southern Douglas County and is part of Baldwin’s rich local history. Test your survivor skills and knowledge about the Trail by playing “The Santa Fe Trail Game” on the next pages! More information about the Trail and local history can be found on the website maintained by our local chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society at www.santafetraildouglas.org.

THE SANTA FE TRAIL (SFT) BEGAN AS A TRADE ROUTE BETWEEN MISSOURI AND NEW MEXICO IN SEPTEMBER 1821. BY 1880, THE RAILROADS CROSSED THE USA, CONNECTING THE EAST TO THE WEST. THEY BECAME THE CHEAPER, FASTER TRANSPORTATION ROUTE AND SFT USE DECREASED.

Traders carried various kinds of cloth, needles, thread, and buttons to New Mexico, as well as knives, axes, and other tools for trading The traders sold their wagons and livestock in Santa Fe, NM then returned east to Missouri with silver, wool, and mules. Mexican traders traveled from Santa Fe to St. Louis where they would purchase goods to take back to New Mexico to sell.

Later, the SFT was used as a highway for the military and military posts were established along the Trail. Freighting firms, mail contractors, and the Pony Express traveled the Trail to convey goods and mail from the Eastern US to the Southwest. Many people traveled the trail to New Mexico but some settled in Kansas Territory along the way.

After leaving Independence, Missouri, SFT travelers trekked through Douglas County from the 2nd day into the 5th day of their journey. In Douglas County the SFT followed “The Narrows.” The Narrows is a thin strip of land running on top of a ridgeline between the tributary waters of the Wakarusa River (pronounced WA-ka-ROO-suh) and the Marias de Cygnes River (pronounced MARE-uh de Sane/Zane) watershed. Wagons were often stuck or slowed down in wet or boggy areas. Wagon trains drove along The Narrows to avoid water crossings and muddy areas as much as possible.

The Black Jack, Palmyra, and Willow Springs areas were popular places for wagon trains to stop for water, rest, to camp and make repairs. After Kansas was opened for settlement, towns formed near these places. Although these towns no longer exist, reminders of the SFT still do. Today we can visit the Palmyra Well site. Ruts left by the wagons are visible near Black Jack Crossing. A new walking trail allows visitors to walk around and through these ruts. The location of Willow Springs is marked with two special signs. The Original Route of the SFT, which is on 5 miles of county roads, is marked with signs. The Santa Fe Trail Game will be available for future purchase.

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THEGAME GamePieces

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From the Diaries

Black Jack Crossing was the usual camping place along the Trail on the second night traveling West from Independence. The Crossing was 65 miles from Independence MO. The First Night: The ﬁrst day, travelers usually went about 35 miles and camped west of what is now Olathe in Johnson County KS. (No town existed in the early days of the trail, of course.) Primarily, the Lone Elm or Round Grove campground was used.

NOW: Lone Elm Campground is marked by a park located at W 167th Street and Lone Elm Road, north Olathe in Jo Co KS. It has interpretive signs, hiking trails and more. www.nps.gov/places/000/ lone-elm-campground.htm

GARDNER

Stop

WHAT

All players choose a

Roll Dice.

TAKE A DRIVE! In Douglas County, one is able to follow the actual route of the SFT very closely by car and visualize The Narrows. Stream or water crossings will be noted within di erent areas along the drive. Get details and information about the Landmark Tour from Freedom’s Frontier app and QR Code. You shot a prairie chicken MOVE FORWARD 2 SPACES Your oxen is injured, TAKE A SHORT BREAK Youdecidetotravel inthedark,butyou takeawrongturn GOUPTHATWAY! HOWTOPLAY Railroad came in 1870’s.Largeuseof the trail in Douglas Countyended. PRINT A MAP! Cell service can be i y. Be prepared by printing out a map that include the points of interest along Santa Fe Trail Depending on the circumstances - it generally it took about 8 weeks ONE WAY to travel to Santa Fe, NM from Independence, MO www.nps.gov

EDGERTON SANTA FE TRAIL DouglasCounty SANTA FE TRAIL “TheNarrows ” isatermusedforthe ridge that serves as the watersheddividebetweentheWakarusa and Kansas Rivers tothenorthandtheMaraisdesCygnes River to the south Travelerswouldusetheridgeto avoid water crossings. COUNTY LINE BLACK JACK RUTS WALKING TRAIL Black Jack Ruts are located on the Ivan L. Boyd Memorial Prairie Preserve. Three miles east of Baldwin City, KS, (US 56 & E. 2000 Rd) Come experience the look and feel of traveling the tall grass prairie on the Santa Fe Trail for yourself!! US 56 Black Jack Crossing Trail Park Palmyra Well Oh No! You took the Oregon trail! SKIP YOUR NEXT TURN Count the spaces on your way back. BALDWIN CITY I-35 “TheNarrows ” YOUWIN! WIN! stuckYourwagongot inthemud. NEXTSKIPYOUR TURN STOPPED FOR DINNER AT BULL CREEK. Eat a meal of crackers with a little ham fried at the small ﬁre of the wagoners. STOP AT THE WELL FOR WATER You broke an axle MOVE BACK 2 SPACES FUNFACT NarrowsThehighridgeoftheisverynoticeableat North400Rdand6thStreet , theﬁrstoriginalsectionofthetrailyoucancurrentlydriveon THREE BRANCHES OF WEST TAUY CREEK HAD TO BE CROSSED WITHIN 3 MILES (E. 1400 – E. 1100 RDS) ALONG N. 550 RD (BTWN BROOKLYN AND WILLOW SPRINGS) FROM EAST TO WEST: Mud Springs Creek –E 1375 Rd and N 550 Rd Creek (Unknown name) –E 1200 Rd Willow Springs Creek –East of E 1100 Rd. It could take 1-2 days to cross 9 miles of Narrows

From the Diaries Josiah Gregg, a trader (1831 -1840) reports it was quite common for a wagon to sink to the wheel hubs in mud, while the surface of the soil all around would appear perfectly dry and smooth.

PLAY LEARN + THEGAME

for the night

US 56 START HOWTOPLAY YOU NEED 1 DICE + 1 GAME PIECE

at Lone Elm. SKIP

YOUR NEXT TURN

20

a game piece.

Cut out the game pieces on page

or use a coin as

RULES

game piece.

1.

pieces

Youngest

goes

2. Place all game

on START.

player

ﬁrst.

Move your piece as many spaces as the number on the dice. 4. First person to clear “The Narrows” WINS! I-35

3.

I-35 LONE ELM

CAMPING ALONG THE TRAIL:

Susan Shelby Mago n Experience: Susan Shelby Mago n noted the following on June 13, 1846, in her diary. “The hindermost one [wagon] has stuck in a mud hole and they are doubling and tripling teams to pull it out… We have made but a poor travel to day; not more than eight miles…. the mud hole detained us two full hours; so to make up in some measure we did not stop until after 8 o’clock tonight.” Mrs. Mago n writes the next day, June 14, “We are out on the Prairie now.”

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