1823 Liberty Dime from Soldier Creek Crossing, 14OS1302
Date: 1823
This Liberty dime was recovered at a Santa Fe trail stream crossing site in Osage County. The silver dime, minted in 1823, is a type called "Capped Bust," meaning it was struck over a 1822 Liberty dime with the "3" of 1823 directly on top of the "2" of the 1822 date. The site was the focus of a 1995 Kansas Archeology Training Program event with Kansas Historical Society archeologists and volunteers from the Kansas Anthropological Association.

1853 Half Dime from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1853-1868
This silver half dime was recovered from Fort Zarah during the 1969 Kansas Archeological Training Program field school, a joint project undertaken by Kansas Historical Society archeologists and Kansas Anthropological Association volunteers. The obverse side shows a Seated Liberty with her right hand resting on a striped shield and her left hand holding a Liberty pole. Six-pointed stars surround Liberty and arrows are present on each side of the date of 1853. The reverse side has the words "HALF DIME" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves. Fort Zarah, located along the Santa Fe trail in Barton County, was active from 1864 to 1869.

1995 Excavations at the Havana Stage Station, 14OS1301
Date: 1995
Shown are eleven images taken during the excavation at the Havana Stage Station in Osage County during the Kansas Archeology Training Program field school in 1995. The Havana Stage Station was built along the Santa Fe trail in 1858 and by the early 1870s had ceased to function as station and became part of the outbuildings of a farm. Shown is a view of the former station taken in the 1950s, a sketch of the site in 1995, a sketch of the station ruins in 1995, five views of the station's foundations and walls, two views of mapping and recordkeeping, and the nearby stone corral.

.58 Caliber Minie Balls from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1855-1869
These five minie balls were excavated at Fort Zarah in 1972 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists at the site of the original fort building. The minie balls are .58 caliber, have three grease grooves and conical or hollow bases. The fort was a small outpost on the Santa Fe trail in Barton County occupied from 1864 to 1869.

Abstract of journals from the 1845 Kearny Expedition
Date: 1846
This excerpt from the congressional report of the Secretary of War includes the abstracts of two journals, one by Lieutenant William B. Franklin, a topographical engineer, and another by Lieutenant H.S. Turner of the 1st dragoons stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Under the command of Stephen Kearny, the 1st dragoons and their accompanying engineers left Fort Leavenworth on a military march, heading northwest on what would become the Oregon Trail, down along the Rocky Mountains to Mexican territory, and back up via the Santa Fe Trail. This march was intended as a display of the United States' military power to both native tribes and the British government (which at this time was exerting its authority over Oregon Territory). For the most part this abstract details their route, but it does include a transcription of a conversation between Kearny and a Sioux chief named Bull Tail.

Act establishing commission for treaties with Osage Indians a creation of trail
Date: March 3, 1825
This act was written establishing a commission to make treaties with the Osage Indians to create the Santa Fe Trail and treaties with the Osage tribes.

A local history of Jerome Township, Gove County, Kansas
Creator: Baker, Fred
Date: 1918
This is a local history of Jerome Township, Gove County, Kansas, as recollected by Fred Baker, Gove City, Kansas. Baker wrote this sketch and submitted it in March 1918 to the Golden Belt Educational Association at Hays, Kansas, and was awarded a prize. Also included is a letter from Judge J.C. Ruppenthal, Russell, Kansas, to William Connelly, Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas, who received the sketch from Baker and wished for it to be donated into the Society's holdings.

Along the trail west of Ingalls, Kansas
Date: September 5, 1914
This is a colored photograph of a covered wagon traveling along the trail west of Ingalls, Kansas. Next to the trail is one of Soule's irrigation ditches.

Andrew J. Mead to John A. Halderman
Creator: Mead, Andrew J., 1814 or 5-1904
Date: March 14, 1859
In a letter marked "Confidential" and dated March 14, 1859, Andrew J. Mead of Manhattan, Kansas Territory, writes to enlist John Halderman's help to get Russell, Majors, and Waddell to use a new Blue River ferry at Manhattan, called Johnstons ferry, when they begin hauling freight over the "Great Central Route via Smoky Hill" to the gold mines. Mead is "deeply interested" in this ferry and wishes to negotiate a contract with the freighters for its use.

Annabelle Delp's map of Township 14 South, Range 14 West, Russell County
Creator: Delp, Annabelle Lee, 1895-1986
Date: 1910
A map drawn by Annabelle Delp, showing creeks, the Denver Trail, and the homesteaders of Grant Township, Township 14 South, Range 14 West, Russell County. Annabelle also compiled a comprehensive list of homesteaders in the township. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing."

A Portfolio of Mormon Trail Engravings
Date: 1874
A pamphlet of Mormon Trail engravings by Frederick Hawkins Piercy and Thomas Moran. The engravings offer a glimpse of what travelers saw along the Mormon Trail.

Arrival of the Caravan at Santa Fe
Date: Between 1844 and 1845
This illustration from Josiah Gregg's Commerce on the Prairies depicts a caravan of Americans arriving in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Santa Fe Trail, opened in 1821 by William Bucknell, served as a freight route and passed through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Arrival of wagon caravan at Santa Fe
Date: 1844--1845
Photo of an illustration "Arrival of the caravan at Santa Fe" from Josiah Gregg's Commerce of the Prairies.

As The Old Santa Fe Trail Looks Today
Creator: Palenske, Louis F., 1858-1943
Date: 1930
This is a monograph by Louis Palenske, addressing the Old Santa Fe Trail as it looked in 1930 shortly after the author traveled the length of the trail by car, taking panoramic photographs along the route. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company's El Capitan
Creator: Bradley, R. Collins
Date: Bewteen 1950 and 1960
This photograph shows the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's El Capitan entering the Raton Tunnel in Colorado. In the foreground a marker indicates that the present right-of way follows the Santa Fe Trail.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's passenger train, Burlingame, Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: Between 1950 and 1959
This photograph shows a Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company's westbound passenger train crossing the Santa Fe Trail near Burlingame, Kansas.

Augustine Joseph "Gus" Bellport
Date: Between 1890 and 1919
This photograph shows Augustine Joseph "Gus" Bellport, ( 1845-1933), from LaCrosse, Kansas seated on a horses at a unidentified location. Bellport was a cowboy and rancher. In 1867, he served as a wagon master from Fort Leavenworth to Medicine Lodge during the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty. From 1869-1870, Bellport raised beef cattle for soldiers near Fort Hays. In 1870, he went to Ellsworth County to work as a foreman on a cattle ranch. In 1873, Bellport began ranching near Rush Center and later moved to LaCrosse, Kansas where he engaged in various business ventures. He was also involved in the 1893 Oklahoma Cherokee Strip Land Rush. This photo shows his saddle that was purchased in San Antonio, Texas in 1867 and was used in cattle drives over the Old Chisholm Trail. As a legacy to his profession and career, his family donated the saddle to the Kansas State Historical Society in 1933.

Beads from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These beads were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Some are likely trade beads that were widely traded until the 1850s, while others may have been deposited at the site much later. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Beads from the Mahaffie Farmstead and Stagecoach Stop
Date: 1858-1886
These two beads were recovered at excavations in 1988 during a joint venture between Kansas Historical Society archeologists, Kansas Anthropological Association volunteers, and the City of Olathe. Both beads are oblong and red, but the darker red bead may be manufactured of wood, while the brighter red bead may be of glass. It is difficult to tell the materials without harming the bead. The site consisted of the residence and out buildings built by James and Lucinda Mahaffie in 1858. The farmstead later served as a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe trail.

Beer Bottle from the Mahaffie Farmstead and Stagecoach Stop, 14JO356
Date: 1858-1886
This brown glass bottle has the typical neck of a beer bottle, but is much shortened in the body. The bottle has what is called a blob style finish at the rim. It was recovered during excavations in 1988 during a joint venture between Kansas Historical Society archeologists, Kansas Anthropological Association volunteers, and the City of Olathe. The site, 14JO356, consisted of the residence and out buildings built by James and Lucinda Mahaffie in 1858. The farmstead later served as a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe trail.

Bennington Door Knobs from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1864-1868
These two door knobs were excavated at Fort Zarah in 1969 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. The ceramic door knobs are decorated in a style known as Bennington, after the manufacturer, and show a threaded interior. The fort was a small outpost on the Santa Fe trail in Barton County occupied from 1864 to 1869. The trading post building within the fort, from where these door knobs were located, burned in 1868.

Bent's Fort, Colorado
Creator: Palenske, Louis F., 1858-1943
Date: 1928-1938
This panorama was taken from Bent's Fort on the Old Santa Fe Trail, about nine miles west of Lamar, Colorado. In this view, looking west, we see the Arkansas River as well as the remains of old Fort Lyon. This photo was created by Louis Palenske using a Korona Panoramic View Camera. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Bertha Fink's map of Township 14 South, Range 14 West, Russel County
Creator: Fink, Bertha M., 1898-1984
Date: 1910
A map drawn by Bertha Fink showing creeks, the Denver Trail, and the homesteaders of Grant Township, Township 14 South, Range 14 West in Russell County. Bertha also compiled a list of the homesteaders in the township. This is one of several maps drawn by school children for a contest organized by Judge J. C. Ruppenthal of Russell, Kansas. The maps were to meet a "requirement of presenting historical data, together with excellence and accuracy of drawing."

Billings & Bryant to John Brown, bill of sale for horse wagon
Creator: Billings & Bryant,
Date: Between 1855 and 1859
The state of Iowa frequently served as a relatively safe haven for abolitionist John Brown and his followers during the late 1850s, and Iowa City was on the famous Lane Trail which carried many free-state activists and settlers to and from Kansas. This document, from "Billings & Bryant," indicates that the partners had received $100 from John Brown as payment "in full for a heavy Horse Waggon" that they agreed "to ship immediately to J B Iowa City, Iowa; care of Dr. Jesse Bowen." Bowen was a member of the Kansas Central Committee of Iowa who later lived in Leavenworth, Kansas Territory.

Bottle Stopper from the Baker House, 14MO701
Date: 1862
This glass bottle stopper with a tapered shank was recovered during excavations at the Baker house in Morris County, undertaken by Emporia State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) archeological field school in 1972 and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1993. Bottle stoppers were essential to close sealed bottles to the air once they had been opened. Some bottle stoppers were meant to be disposable, while others such as this one could be reused. The Baker house and nearby store were situated along the Santa Fe trail. The owner, A. I. Baker, was murdered in 1862 by "Bloody Bill" Anderson and his cohorts, who also burned the store and house.