Lakin, Kansas
Conestoga Wagon
The Conestoga Wagons were used primarily to haul freight on the Santa Fe Trail and other freight trails. They could handle two tons of goods. The wagon in our displayed in the Museum Comples bears the...
Conestoga WagonCharlie's Ruts
About four miles east of Lakin on highway 50 is a very good view of wagon ruts. Five sets of Santa Fe Trail ruts are easily made out. At the foot of the ruts, to the west, is a parking area with a sta...
Charlie's RutsChouteau's Island
Chouteau's Island was the largest island of timber on the Arkansas River in this area. In the spring of 1816, Auguste Pierre Chouteau was returning to Missouri with several other fur trappers when the...
Chouteau's IslandBear Creek Pass
This pass is one of the most interesting histories in the state of Kansas. Kearny County was fortunate in the creation of the sandhills, with the only natural pass through the low lying hills and sand...
Bear Creek PassBluff Station
Bluff station was southeast of Indian Mound, on the east side of a sand creek which circles north and east of the Mound and flowed into the Arkansas River. Some sources think it may have been built by...
Bluff StationAubey Route
The Aubrey Route, which left the Santa Fe Trail on the Arkansas River at Chouteau's Island and Indian Mound, west of Lakin, crossed Kearny and Grant Counties, and joined the Cimarron Branch at a point...
Aubey Route