Rice County

The Santa Fe National Historic Trail runs East to West through Rice County along Highway 56. Throughout the years many artifacts left by both the Native Americans and the pioneers have been found along the trail. These artifacts are being preserved and exhibited in the Coronado-Quivira Museum in Lyons. The history of the Santa Fe Trail through Rice County has been written in numerous books and articles.

Although many of the ruts and sites of the old trail are no longer visible, the Santa Fe Trail still lives on today. New information is being researched and published daily relating to all the colorful characters and places: early Indian traders and travelers, Spanish explorers, French trappers, emigrants, gold seekers, adventures, military personnel, traders, merchants, and the women of trail, both Hispanic and Anglo, by the thousands.