The Santa Fe Trail in Finney County, Kansas, represents a crucial segment of the historic Mountain Route, a path that shaped the American West. This legendary trail, vital for trade and migration, carved its way from Gray County into what is now Finney County, Kansas, leaving behind indelible marks on the landscape and in history. Travelers along the Finney County Santa Fe Trail encountered both challenging terrain and significant landmarks, each telling a story of perseverance and transformation.
This particular section of the Mountain Route passed near the old townsite of Pierceville, located about 12 miles east of present-day Garden City. Pierceville was once home to a prominent ranch, which tragically fell victim to an Indian Raid and fire in 1874, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by settlers and traders during this tumultuous period.
Point of Rocks: A Landmark of Solace
One of the most notable features along the Santa Fe Trail in Finney County is the landmark known as Point of Rocks. Situated approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Pierceville, on the north side of Mansfield Road, this natural formation offered a sense of guidance and relief to weary travelers. It parallels the Arkansas River and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks, marking a convergence of historical and modern transportation routes.
Point of Rocks in Finney County is one of at least four similarly named sites along the Santa Fe Trail, each serving as vital navigational aids. The trail itself passed immediately south of this distinct formation, allowing caravans to orient themselves amidst the vast, often featureless plains that characterize much of western Kansas. The integrity of this natural feature remains remarkably preserved, offering a tangible link to the past.
Pawnee Fort and Early Encounters
The area surrounding Point of Rocks also holds historical significance as the location of what was known as Pawnee Fort. Lewis Gerrard, who at the age of 17 joined a caravan to Santa Fe in 1846, described Pawnee Fort as a grove of timber where a Pawnee Indian war party had fortified themselves against a hostile tribe years prior. This account highlights the complex interactions and conflicts between Native American tribes, even before the full influx of American settlers.
On July 22, 1846, Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny and the Army of the West passed ‘Pawnee Fort, an old decayed stockade’ after camping near the Caches in Ford County. Their passage underscores the strategic importance of this location, even as the fortifications themselves began to wane. Personal accounts further illuminate the site’s history, such as the poignant diary entry from William Salisbury, a young gold-seeker from Ohio, on May 28, 1859:
“We were on our road at the usual time this morning. Nothing occurred of any account. It is clear and pleasant. Found road very good except some sandy hills. Came to Pawney [sic] fort about 3 o’clock p.m. Saw up under the shelving rocks [Point of Rocks] where an Indian had been buried and had been dug up by the Wolves.”
Salisbury’s words paint a vivid picture of the trail, the landscape, and the stark realities of life and death encountered by those who traveled this challenging route.
The Railroad’s Impact and the Trail’s Decline
The late 1860s brought significant changes to the Santa Fe Trail with the relentless advance of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. As the railroad pushed closer to the Colorado state line, it gradually truncated the long wagon route to Santa Fe, rendering portions of the historic trail obsolete. From 1866 to June 1868, the Barlow & Sanderson Stage Company continued to utilize this shortened trail segment.
However, by June 1868, the railroad had reached the short-lived city of Sheridan, Kansas, near Fort Wallace. This development shifted the trail’s eastern terminus approximately 100 miles north-northwest of Point of Rocks, leading to the abandonment of the trail portion east of Sheridan. The march of progress continued, and by March 1870, the railroad had extended to Kit Carson, Colorado, effectively spelling the end of significant trail traffic along the Santa Fe Trail as it had been known for decades.
Westward into Kearny County
From Point of Rocks, the trail continued its westward journey through the areas that would become the modern-day towns of Garden City and Holcomb. This path eventually led travelers into Kearny County, marking another segment of their arduous but essential passage across the vast plains of Kansas.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Santa Fe Trail in Finney County
The Santa Fe Trail in Finney County, Kansas, though now traversed by modern roads and railways, remains a powerful testament to an era of exploration, commerce, and westward expansion. Sites like Point of Rocks and the echoes of Pawnee Fort serve as vital reminders of the trail’s challenges and the lives it touched. The history embedded in this segment of the Mountain Route continues to offer valuable insights into the formative years of the American frontier, preserving the stories of traders, soldiers, and pioneers who shaped the destiny of a nation.
