Shawnee Indian Mission

Date of Trip:November 28,2009 ,last stop of the day.

Somewhere buried in the suburban landscape,where what city you are in seems to change block by block is the Shawnee Indian Mission.Originally a large tract of land it has been shrunk and shrunk to where it now only occupies a couple of buildings, you have to walk across a busy street to get to one of them.

The history of the site is enormous, from frankly teaching Indian Children the white ways, and that is covered in the film we saw to the meeting house of the bogus legislator of Bleeding Kansas fame. Because in October we visited the Mission in Council Grove and because Council Grove is a long more interesting than the burbs,I enjoyed Council Grove more.Maybe I was just feeling the ghosts of Pro Slavery leader Rev. Tom Johnson and his son about the place. It is a nice little piece of land. Note for National Park Stamp collectors, you can get a Trails stamp here.

Lewis and Clark Statue in Case Park.

I'll just say this may be not newest favorite place in Kansas City.Beautiful statue,beautiful park. A place where true happened.

On the Lewis and Clark Trail

Date: November 28,2009

Case Park-Kansas City,Missouri

The words of the corp of discovery speak for themselves.Top left/center you see where the Kansas River heads West.

Tuesday June 26,1804

from the journal of Patrick Gass:

We embarked and set out at five o'clock in the morning; passed a creek on the south side, called Blue-Water. This afternoon we had some difficulty in passing a sandbar, the tow-rope having broke; but by the exertions of those on board, the boat was brought to shore without injury. We encamped on the south side on a point at the confluence of the Canzan, or Kanzas river with the Missouri. It was agreed to remain here during the 27th and 28th where we pitched our tents and built bowers in front of them. Canzan or Kanzas, is 230 yards and a quarter wide, and navigable to a great distance. Our hunters killed 4 deer, and a young wolf, and caught another alive. In the afternoon of the 29th we again proceeded on our voyage, and encamped on the north side of the river.

Monday-September 15,1806

from the Journal of William Clark:

we set out early with a Stiff Breeze a head saw Several deer Swiming the river soon after we Set out. at 11 A. M. passed the enterance of the Kanzas river which was very low, about a mile below we landed and Capt Lewis and my Self assended a hill which appeared to have a Commanding Situation for a fort, the Shore is bold and rocky imediately at the foot of the hill, from the top of the hill you have a perfect Command of the river, this hill fronts the Kanzas and has a view of the Missouri a Short distance above that river.

Pictures National Trails Center

Poster of the Chicago-Alton Line.Note the detail of the map of the route on the bottom of the lounger all the way up to her head.


This is an amazing photgraph, I wish was available in post card.A wagon train and a steam train meet.A Clash of techonological advancement that made the wagon trains die off.

All Roads lead West

Date of Trip: November 28,2009

I posted on my facebook status "Wagons West Pics to follow" and then headed out about an hour and half East to Independence,Missouri. Long before Independence was known as the hometown of Harry Truman it was one of ,if not the most famous portages to the great trails of the 19th Century.Blacksmiths,traders,wagons and supplies were in abundance for those going west. Santa Fe,Oregon,California and the Mormon trail.It all starts here. Thousands flock to Independence to see the Truman Library and the home in a quiet residential neighborhood on Delaware Street. The town square is a classic,a large court house and shops. We came for the National Frontier Trails Museum.

Maybe a mile from the town square,identifiable by the Conestoga Wagon and the statue of Jim Bridger is the National Trails Musuem. For those interested in National Parks Stamps, you can get several there. One of the more interesting feature is several of the exhibits come with narration,diaries and journals of the tens of thousands who made it west. Most interesting is Horace Greeley's famous "Go West young man" quote. What is not told about this famous quote is apparently he thought anybody making the trek was foolhardly. That was my favorite audio clip.

The exhibits have everything from stuffed Beaver when telling of the hundreds of new species that Lewis and Clark catalogs and sent back to DC to a general store. Many maps and paintings dot the walls. Several prints are available in the gift shop. As I have said before my favorite exhibit in the Kansas State Historical Society is one of clock,dishes and other things the travelers were forced to set aside on the road.I saw more here,including the story of a chair someone picked up and kept the rest of his life.

A funny tale told is the exhibit of the stuffed rattlesnake, the card said that a solider in the Mexican -American War was bit by a rattlesnake and the doctor gave him "all the whiskey he could drink".Soon other began showing up with the same claims. The Doctor told them they could get any whiskey until after he treated the wound, most claimed to get better on the spot. Love a good story involving alcohol.

On the grounds is a restored train depot on the Chicago-Alton line that was moved about 3 miles.One of the people we were in the tour with wanted to know if Truman traveled from the station. I have included a picture from an advertisement that hangs on the wall ,the painting is of the actress Lili Langtree

Biography from Wiki :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillie_Langtry

Exciting Tallgrass Prairie News

When I went to Tallgrass for the first time last summer, the Ranger excitedly told us the Bison would be coming next year. The same information was given in September when I went. I pick up the paper this morning and they are here. Exciting News and a reason to return in the near future. To be sure there are Bison in Kansas already, farms near Salina and in Canton have Bison but it is a big deal to have them return to Tallgrass and roaming free in a National Park in Kansas

The story from the Capital Journal and some great pictures that were Top of the fold in the paper version of the Paper.

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2009-10-30/bison_return_to_prairie

Homestead National Monument of America

In the mist of Civil War in 1862 Congress passed the Homestead Act. On January 1,1863 anyone who signed up was given 160 acres of land to farm.If they stuck with it,they could keep the land.Why go to Nebraska if this is a blog about Kansas ? Fair question. Soon after the Homestead Act was passed, Timothy Smith came from Pennsylvania to Pott County Kansas, a few miles from Manhattan and began to farm. 5 Generations later, the writer of this blog sits at a lap top writing these words. The land near Manhattan is still in use.Someone in my the family has the paper signed by Lincoln granting the use of the land.

Last summer and this , I have seen the tales of Bleeding Kansas,the Drive Western,stood on a bluff and looked down at a river where Lewis and Clark explored.I have seen the Industry that has built the state,the politics that have moved the state and the nation. The moments were the hairs on my arm stand up have been many. The tour guide at the William Allen White explaining "6 Presidents have eaten at this table." Here we going to Beatrice,Nebraska the site of the Homestead land of Daniel Freeman, and I know his story is also my families Story. The story of the American Farmer braving locust,lack of knowledge in Farming. As many people who kept the land into the 6th and 7th generation many more failed.

Beatrice is maybe a half hour from Kansas, the Monument is 4 miles outside of town.It sits on 160 acres land Homesteaded by Daniel Freeman who made his claim on January 1,1863, one of the first if not the first to Homestead. We visited the Heritage Center.For cancellation fans, you can get 4 Stamps, one for the Monument, the Oregon Trail,California Trail and Pony Express.I had the best time talking with the Ranger about stamps, where to get them, how many we've had and hidden stamps.She found out afterwards if you go to the top of Long's Peak, you can get another stamp. She called and had them send her one.

The Film talks about the history of Homesteading including the fact it kicked Indians off their land. The Museum exhibits include Farm equipment, a wonderful display of Newspaper ads for Homesteading. It's very multi media with several videos,including a discussion about the last Homesteader in Alaska ,who got his land in 1980's.The centerpiece is a wind mill with rises above the upper level.

The grounds also include hiking trails,a restored cabin and a one room school house just off the property. In talking about the multi media , they are also on Facebook. I am now a Fan. The website talks about Fiddle festivals,high school ecology field trips and controlled burns.I had high expectations because of the link to my family history. I was thrilled to be there, thrilled it exists.Homesteading is an important story in Manifest destiny. The Bill signed by Lincoln opened by opportunity for many.60% of those who made Claims failed, 40% suceeded beyond the 5 years.