New signs mark old trail
The Cottonwood Crossing Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association recently completed installation of signs in 48 locations where the Santa Fe Trail crosses county roads.
Marion County commissioners approved placing the signs in county right-of-way and have been very supportive, chapter president Steve Schmidt said. Funding came from a National Park Service grants. Chapter members donated the labor.
The project represents an investment of more than $12,000 in material and labor.
By following of the signs and the chapter’s brochure, “Marion County Auto Tour of the Santa Fe Trail,” people can follow the path of the Santa Fe Trail across Marion County.
The brochure is available in literature boxes at the stone monument on U.S. 56 at the McPherson County line, at the Cottonwood Crossing historic site 1.5 miles west of Durham, across the street from Al’s Café in Lost Springs, and at Country Haven Inn in Hillsboro.
More information is available at http://www.santafetrail.org.
Locations chosen for the signs are based on the 1857 public land survey and existing visual remnants of the trail.
“The 1857 survey information led us to trail ruts and old markers we had not seen before,” Schmidt said.
Last modified Aug. 20, 2009