A Trek Through History: Exploring National Historic Trails in Johnson County
The California, Oregon and Santa Fe National Historic Trails span 25 states and 25,000 miles, and they have an extensive history right here in Johnson County.
Brown signs mark the places where these three trails crossed through our county, commemorating those who used them for passage and trade between the 1830s and 1860s. Emigrants used the Oregon and California National Historic Trails to find a better life in the west, while merchants established the Santa Fe Trail for commercial purposes.
Beginning in Missouri, the trails wound west through Johnson County, splitting off into their three distinct routes. These trails have a legacy in our county – not only in the names of local streets, schools and parks, but also as history you can visit. At numerous locations in the county, you can stand in the exact spot pioneers pursuing a better life did centuries ago.
An Overview of the Three Trails
California National Historic Trail
The California National Historic Trail is synonymous with the Gold Rush, which enticed more than 250,000 emigrants to head west – the largest mass migration in American history. The journey along the trail eventually landed settlers in gold fields in California, with a combined length of more than 5,000 miles.
The trail entered Johnson County from the east near 123rd Street, making its way through Gardner, Lawrence and Topeka before carving a path through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and finally California. Today, California Trail Middle School in Olathe honors its namesake trail.
Oregon National Historic Trail
Wagons carved the path of the Oregon National Historic Trail as it took settlers west in search of a new life and fertile farmland. Established by fur trappers in 1811, the trail was only passable by foot or horseback until the first wagon hit the ground in 1836.
The Oregon Trail followed a similar route through Johnson County as the California Trail. Both trails continued together through Nebraska and Wyoming, when the Oregon Trail finally splits and heads north through Idaho and then Oregon.
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Unlike the emigrant heritage of the California and Oregon Trails, the Santa Fe National Historic Trail was mainly used for trade. From 1821 to 1880, the trail was a bustling commercial route and military path connecting Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The trail was key to establishing trade with Mexico, as Santa Fe was located near the end of a trade route from Mexico City. After the Civil War, however, the era of the Santa Fe Trail came to an end. That’s because the railroad expanded across Kansas, leading to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad’s arrival in Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe Trail holds an especially important legacy in Johnson County. You can travel Santa Fe Trail Drive across parts of Lenexa and Overland Park, and Santa Fe Trail Middle School in Olathe is named after the trail. There are also a multitude of historical places along the trail, which crossed through the county along two different routes:
- The south route, the Independence Route, originated in Independence and followed a similar path as the California and Oregon Trails.
- The north route, the Westport Route, took a different path, working its way down through Kansas City and entered the county near 71st Street.
Both routes eventually reconnect in Gardner, and from there, the Santa Fe Trail heads southwest.
The Trails’ Impact on Native Communities
As we explore the history of the California, Oregon and Santa Fe National Historic Trails, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the impact of westward expansion on Native communities. The Kanza, Osage, and other tribes in this region faced immense loss. Their ancestral lands were seized, their communities disrupted, and their cultures often suppressed.
We can honor their legacy by recognizing their history, learning about their contemporary struggles, and supporting for a more just and equitable future for all.
Trekking the Trails in Johnson County
Gardner Junction Park marks the point where the California and Oregon Trails split from the Santa Fe Trail.
Gardner Junction Park: Where the Trails Divide
Gardner is the location of one of the most important points along the three historic trails: It’s where the trails divided. You can visit the spot where the Oregon and California Trails split from the Santa Fe Trail at Gardner Junction Park. From there, the Oregon and California Trails continue northwest, while the Santa Fe Trail continues southwest.
At Gardner Junction Park, you can imagine what life was like for travelers heading westbound in the 1800s, from the park’s six species of native grass to its 30 different types of wildflowers. The park features information panels highlighting points of interest along the National Historic Trails. Visitors can walk a paved path to exhibits detailing the history of the region.
Other Parks in Johnson County Along the Trail
Gardner Junction Park isn’t the only noteworthy park located along the three trails in Johnson County. Nine Mile Point at Weltner Park in Prairie Village marks the location where the Santa Fe Trail crossed into Kansas along the Westport Route. Another Prairie Village park, Santa Fe Trail Park features the “Prairie Village Ruts,” which marked the wagon path settlers traveled.
Further west along the Westport Route is Overland Park’s Strang Park, where you can view displays on the history of the trail. Not far from Strang Park, Sapling Grove Park has important history of its own, as it served as a campground for trail travelers. An additional campground was located at Flat Rock Creek Park in Lenexa – named “Flat Rock” for the rocks lining the creek bed.
To the south along the Independence Route, Lone Elm Park in Olathe served as another campground – often where travelers spent their first night west of the Missouri River. The Trails West sculpture at the park honors Olathe’s role in American western expansion.
A 60-foot bronze stagecoach statue is located a short distance from Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm in Olathe served a crucial role in the history of the Oregon, California and Santa Fe Trails. James Beatty Mahaffie and his wife Lucinda founded the farm in 1858, and the family ran the farm until 1870. Throughout this period, travelers could rest and stock up on supplies at the busy stagecoach stop before continuing their journey along the Westport Route. The 40-acre site is now a museum.
A short walk from Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, visitors can view a 60-foot bronze stagecoach statue, which reflects the ethnic diversity of the 19th-century American west.
Lanesfield School House
Operated by the Johnson County Museum, the Lanesfield School House preserves a 19th century schoolhouse – the last remaining structure of the town of Lanesfield. The historic schoolhouse is located along the Santa Fe Trail west of where the trails divided. It’s open on the second Saturday each month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and admission is free. Visitors can also see a mail stop located along the trail.
Shawnee Indian Mission
In Fairway just west of State Line Road is the Shawnee Indian Mission, which served as an Indian mission and school in the mid-1800s. It also held significance to those trekking the trails. The mission frequently served as a meeting place for travelers beginning their journey west. The mission’s blacksmith shop was also frequented by trail users. If you visit, you can spot trail ruts north of the buildings.