A History of Kansas

by Anna E. Arnold

And Old Virginia with her noble stock,

And Sunny Kansas with her woes and glory.”

—Eugene F. Ware.

Pawnee Rock. One of the early landmarks was Pawnee Rock on the old Santa Fe Trail, in what is now Barton County. This giant rock standing on the level plain was a noted spot, for the Trail ran near its base, and while it provided a place of rest and safety for many a weary traveler, it also afforded a retreat from which the Indians could dash down upon the traders. In later years much of the rock was torn away for building purposes and this historic old landmark was rapidly disappearing. The Woman’s Kansas Day Club resolved to save this historic spot, and secured a deed for the Rock and five acres of ground surrounding it. On Kansas Day, 1909, the women presented this deed to the State. The transfer was made with the condition that the State spend $3000 for improvements. This was done and the preservation of Pawnee Rock is now assured.

Present View of Pawnee Rock.

The Pike Memorial. The exact site of the Pawnee Indian village visited by Lieutenant Pike in 1806 was not known with certainty for many years, but was finally found to be in Republic County. It was located through the discovery of rows of circular ridges supposed to have been the embankments of the Indian lodges.[21] An iron fence now incloses about six acres of the ground, on which the rings are still plainly visible, and a granite shaft stands where the Stars and Stripes first floated over Kansas. The monument bears the inscription: “Erected by the State of Kansas, 1901, to mark the site of the Pawnee Republic where Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike caused the Spanish flag to be lowered and the flag of the United States to be raised, September 29, 1806.”

Where the Stars and Stripes
First Floated over Kansas.

Marking of the Santa Fe Trail. The Santa Fe Trail, which was associated with most of the early history of Kansas, was known throughout the country, but with the settlement of the State the old highway was growing dim; the ruts were filling in, grass was covering the broad track, and with the passing of those who knew it in the old days the true route was in danger of being forgotten. To prevent this, the Daughters of the American Revolution began, in the opening years of the present century, to agitate the question of marking the line of the Trail through the State. In 1905 the Legislature appropriated $1000 “for procuring suitable monuments for this purpose.” Kansas Day of 1906 was designated “Trail Day” in the public schools, and the children were invited to contribute a penny each toward the fund. They gave $584.40. Eighty-nine markers were purchased. Various local organizations added nine more, making a total of ninety-eight markers. They were placed along the Trail from the eastern to the western end of the State. They bear the inscription, “Santa Fe Trail 1822-1872. Marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Kansas, 1906.” A few of the markers bear special inscriptions in addition to this. The one at Council Grove has on the other side, “On this spot, August 10, 1825, the treaty was made with the Osage Indians for the right of way of the Santa Fe Trail.”