Santa Fe Trail

A trade route to the southwest United States extending from Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. First traversed in 1821, it was the primary wagon and stage route to the Southwest until the coming of the railroad in 1880.

Santa Fe Trail

(ˈsæntə ˈfeɪ) n (Placename) an important trade route in the western US from about 1821 to 1880, linking Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico

San′ta Fe′ Trail′

n. a trade route between Independence, Missouri, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, used from about 1821 to 1880.

Thesaurus

Noun

Santa Fe Trail - a trail that extends from Missouri to New Mexico; an important route for settlers moving west in the 19th centurywestern United States, West - the region of the United States lying to the west of the Mississippi River

Santa Fe Trail

See also: National Parks and Monuments (table)National Parks and Monuments

National Parks
Name Type¹ Location Year authorized Size
acres (hectares)
Description
Acadia NP SE Maine 1919 48,419 (19,603) Mountain and coast scenery.
..... Click the link for more information.

Santa Fe Trail,

important caravan route of the W United States, extending c.780 mi (1,260 km) from Independence, Mo., SW to Santa Fe, N.Mex. Independence and Westport, Mo., were the chief points where wagons, teams, and supplies were obtained. From there, the trail led 150 mi (241 km) SW to Council Grove, Kans., which was the main wagon train organization point. Crossing the Kansas plains to the Arkansas River, the trail then followed the river to its fork near Dodge City, Kans. The Mountain Division of the trail in the north continued to hug the river W to Bent's FortBent's Fort,
trading post of the American West, on the Arkansas River in present-day SE Colorado, E of Rocky Ford and La Junta and several miles above the mouth of the Purgatoire. The trading company headed by Charles Bent and Ceran St.
..... Click the link for more information. (now a national historic site); turning south, it passed over its most rugged part, including the Raton Pass. The Cimarron or Cutoff Division of the trail in the south, a more direct route, crossed the Great Plains from the Arkansas River to Fort Union, N.Mex., where it rejoined the northern route. Although less rugged, the southern route was dry, with poor grass and little wildlife. The Santa Fe National Historic Trail (see National Parks and MonumentsNational Parks and Monuments

National Parks
Name Type¹ Location Year authorized Size
acres (hectares)
Description
Acadia NP SE Maine 1919 48,419 (19,603) Mountain and coast scenery.
..... Click the link for more information. (table) follows the route of the old trail, with many sites marked or restored.

By the early 19th cent. small trapping parties had reached Santa Fe, then under Spanish rule; but they were forbidden to trade. In Nov., 1821, William Becknell, a trader, returned with news that Mexico was free and Santa Fe welcomed trade. Early in 1822 he left Missouri for Santa Fe with the first party of traders. From then on, annual wagon caravans, usually leaving in early summer, made the 40- to 60-day trip over the trail and returned after a 4- to 5-week stay in Santa Fe. An increasing amount of goods was taken to Santa Fe each year. In 1850 a monthly stage line was started between Independence and Santa Fe over the northern route. In 1880 the Santa Fe RRSanta Fe Railroad,
former U.S. railroad, chartered in 1863 as the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe RR; opened to traffic in 1864. Construction continued, and in 1880 it reached Santa Fe, N.Mex.; the following year the railroad connected with the Southern Pacific RR.
..... Click the link for more information. reached Santa Fe, marking the death of the trail.

Bibliography

See D. Dary, The Santa Fe Trail: Its History, Legends, and Lore (2000).

Santa Fe trail

caravan route from Missouri to New Mexico. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 743]See: Journey

Santa Fe Trail

wagon-train route extending from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2421]See: Wild West

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

San′ta Fe′ Trail′

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail,

Bibliography

Santa Fe trail

Santa Fe Trail

Santa Fe Trail

Words related to Santa Fe Trail

noun a trail that extends from Missouri to New Mexico

Related Words