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SANTA FE TRAIL TRIP 2024
BY 1923 FORD MODEL T ROADSTER
     40 Years ago (1984) I made a backpacking/walking trip along with 3 friends and a pack donkey, on the nearest roads we could determine, to follow the old Santa Fe Trail.  We started from Fort Osage, where the original 1825 Government Survey of the trail began, near Sibley, Missouri and walked to the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  The distance we walked was about 980 miles and took us 91 days to complete - 80 walking days and 11 rest days.  (Click on "ABOUT LES" above)
     Here I am on the 40th Anniversary of this adventure and have decided to attempt to travel the trail again.  This time, I'm going to travel by car - a 1923 Ford Model T Roadster.  It'll be a little faster than walking, but still slow enough that I can admire and take in all the beautiful scenery as I travel.  I want to visit as many of the trail sites as I can.  There have been so many places along the trail that have been "rediscovered" since I made my journey in 1984.  There have also been several new advances that have taken place concerning the trail since 1984 - In 1986, the Santa Fe Trail Associaton was formed; in 1987, the Santa Fe Trail became a National Historic Trail;  New maps, printed and digital, have been created of the trail;  Geo-Caching is available along the trail;  and New books have been published about the history of the trail.  In my opinion, the greatest advancement that has taken place concerning the trail is the availability of Cell Phones for the everyday person.  Digital maps of the physical trail are now available at your fingertips.  Some of these maps, like the maps developed by the National Park Service, contain links to historic sites along the trail, with directions on how to find them.  Cell Phones also allow a trail traveller, like me, the ability to find lodging, food, and, maybe most importantly, emergency facilities in case of illness or injury.  We didn't have cell phones in 1984.  If something would have happened to one of us, somebody would have had to run to the nearest farmhouse or town for help.  Fortunately, we never had to do this.
     THE FOLLOWING is my journal of my 2024 journey along the trail in a 1923 Model T Roadster.  My goal is to post something every day.  I may not get to posting every day, but as oftern as I can.  I will also be posting pictures of places I'm visiting.
     My journey is set to begin on September 9, 2024.  I have no set agenda of travel.  This trip may take 2 weeks or maybe a month.  If the car breaks down, I may be done in a couple days.  Only time will tell.  Come back and visit often to read of my travels and adventures.
Les and his 1923 Ford Model T Roadster   Close up of side of Roadster  
Here are a couple shots of the 1923 Ford Model T Roadster before I leave on the Trail.  The first photo is of me looking SouthWest toward Santa Fe.  The second photo is taken a little closer to the car so everyone can read the sign on the door: "Santee Fay or Bust".
map of the Santa Fe Trail by the NPS     Map of the Santa Fe Trail as a scroll
This will give you an idea as to where the Santa Fe Trail is/was.  The vast majority of the trail is on private land.  I will be driving the nearest roads to where the trail used to be.  
You can visit this National Park Service webpage to view an interactive map of the Santa Fe Trail:  https://www.nps.gov/safe/planyourvisit/maps.htm  
The Trail was in operation from 1821 until the Railroad arrived in Santa Fe in 1880.  There may have still been a few wagons travelling the trail after the Railroad arrived, but the Railroad offered a much more economical option to hauling freight to Santa Fe.
To read/learn more about the Santa Fe Trail, please visit the Santa Fe Trail Associaton website at:  https://santafetrail.org/  

09/08/24 – Sunday

I left Wilber about 8:15 AM today with my Suburban pulling an enclosed trailer containing my 1923 Model T Roadster.  I am pulling it to New Franklin, MO to start a drive along the Santa Fe Trail – Round Trip – going to Santa Fe by way of the Mountain Branch and returning on the Cimarron Cut-Off.

          I arrived in New Franklin about 2:45 PM.  I drove to the church that was found for me to park my suburban and trailer in the parking lot while I’m on the trail.  I unloaded the car, parked the suburban and trailer and then posed for a photo in front of the church with the T.  The Thompsons left and I drove to Main street to get a photo of the T and the giant granite rock marking the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail.

          I then drove South and West to visit and photograph markers, signs, and historic sites EAST/NORTH (depending on which bend in the river you are talking about) of the Missouri River.  In the early days of the trail, there was a ferry at Arrow Rock.  The town is still there today, but no ferry and no bridge.  Once I made it close to the Missouri River today, I’ll drive over the bridge at Boonville and take the long way to Arrow Rock tomorrow.

          Today I got to see the site of Cooper’s Fort (War of 1812 time period) and Boone’s Lick (where salt was harvested from salt water in the area).

     

09/09/24 – Monday

            I stayed overnight at the Historic Hotel Frederick in Boonville, MO.  As I crossed over the Missouri River toward New Franklin this morning, the fog on the river was beautiful.  Just as the sun was peeping over the horizon.  What a time for my camera to be in the trunk!

I had a wonderful breakfast in New Franklin this morning with members of the Howard County Historical Society.  After breakfast, some of them followed me to Main street to get photos of me next to the Big Granite Rock and under one of several banners they had made up for the Bicentennial of the Santa Fe Trail (1821).

          After the photo shoot, I was off for my first big day of driving.  First stop was Arrow Rock, MO.  Arrow Rock was named for a huge rock jutting out into the Missouri River that was triangle shaped – like an arrow head.  I was told it first appeared on a French map of the area in 1732.  All that’s left of the rock is the triangle shaped base.  The owner of the property was kind enough to meet me there and share information he has researched about the ferry crossing there.  It was a narrow place on the Missouri River and required less effort to cross here than other places along the river.

          I also made a few quick pit stops at some trail ruts and at a spring/watering hole for the Santa Fe Trail travellers.

          My day ended in Lexington, MO.  I drove a total of 86.5 miles today.

          It was brought to my attention today that the numbers in my Model T License plate (2-6-6-2-5) add up to 21.  The Santa Fe Trail began in 1821.  Coincidence?  Or, was I meant to be out here on the trail??