Your first stop will be at the exact location where Lewis and Clark managed to make their way into Kansas on their expedition. Kaw Point Park, located at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, is a spot where the famous expedition decided to camp for a few days. They spent most of that time surveying the land while also trying to make contact with indigenous tribes in the area. While this is technically part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Kaw Point represents the “pre-history” of westward migration and is a natural starting point for your journey through Kansas history.

Next, you'll want to head over to the Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site, a well-preserved manual training school that was first established in Kansas back in 1839, roughly 22 years before its statehood. The Shawnee Mission served as an early territorial capitol, supply point on the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails, and a camp for Union soldiers during the Civil War. The school operated until 1862 and is considered one of the most historic buildings in the entire state of Kansas.

Your third stop will let you time-travel into the present. Strang Park contains a few signs and markers for the history buffs related to the Oregon Trail, but the primary use of this park is designed for kids and family recreation. The park is incredibly modern and focuses on inclusive amenities so that all kids get to enjoy it!

The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site is one of the most historic attractions you can visit in Kansas. While this was technically a stop along the Santa Fe Trail, many passengers likely passed through this portion before turning at the junction point in Gardner, which is located further west. The Mahaffie Stagecoach is also a Registered Agritourism site, and Kansas has more than 400 of them for you to enjoy while you are here.

Now you can begin your journey to the Pacific Northwest! Gardner Junction Park is where indecisive travelers finally had to make a choice: head Northwest into Oregon or Southwest into Santa Fe. I suppose this is where people found out if they had enough supplies for the trek into Oregon, or if they had better odds making the shorter trip heading Southwest. I'm not sure about you, but I would have much preferred taking my chances heading into a warmer climate that's found in New Mexico.

The trail eventually will lead you into Lawrence, a college town home to the University of Kansas, which has grown into a city of almost 100,000 people since the days of the Oregon Trail. Decades before infamous abolitionist John Brown came to Kansas, Lawrence was simply a collection of hills and trees between the Wakarusa and Kansas Rivers, no more than a place to camp for the night. 

Visitors should also remember to check out the collection of historic trails in Lawrence and the surrounding area. Following the Historic Trails of Douglas County is a fantastic way to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Not only does it provide a separate list of stops on the Oregon Trail, but it also covers some historical landmarks on the Santa Fe Trail as well!  You can follow the complete guide and map by clicking here.

Head roughly 20-25 miles west of Lawrence and you'll be in the Capital City of Kansas, Topeka. Much like Lawrence, Topeka has undergone a significant transformation since the days of the Oregon Trail, evolving into a thriving metropolis with over 120,000 residents, numerous hotels, restaurants, and museums. Today, visitors can find some of the city's most historically significant attractions that are found right along the old Oregon Trail.

The Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site allows you to step back in time to when Topeka was first settled. The site contains a replica of the Ward family's 1854 log cabin that was in use while Anthony Ward, who was already a carpenter, began constructing a much grander white mansion, which would be the very first mansion-sized home in Topeka. Also on the site is where you can see the later developments of Topeka, such as an old schoolhouse and drug store. Last, but certainly not least to be enjoyed, is a beautiful Botanical Garden.

Just across from Old Prairie Town, just on the other side of the Kansas River, is Topeka's beloved NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. Visitors to this part of town will see a vibrant urban neighborhood that's known for its many local shops, as well as the many events you can find throughout the year. With so much going on, there really isn't a bad time to visit "NOTO," as the locals like to call it. You can also keep up with the neighborhood's calendar of events, just in case you'd like to see what's going on when you stop by!

As the trail moves further west from Topeka, it remains along the Kansas River for a few more miles and eventually takes you to the town of St. Marys. Although the historic sites located on this stop are certainly marked by controversy, it's also important not to forget the past, as ignoring historical events does nobody any good. 

The St. Marys Indian Pay Station Museum Complex was originally part of the Jesuit mission, first established in 1847, and in 1857, the federal government established a pay station in order to grant annuities to various tribes. The tribes that received payments were mostly from the Great Lakes states and were promised generous amounts of compensation for agreeing to live on a new reservation in Kansas. The reality of the situation was, unfortunately, a lot bleaker. Within 25 years, an overwhelming portion of the land allotted to the various tribes had been parceled or sold to make way for agriculture or railroads.^[5]

You'll continue your journey by locating the Oregon Trail Road just west of St. Marys. Follow the road for a few miles until you stumble upon the painted silo that marks the Oregon Trail Nature Park and Silo Mural. Here is where you get to enjoy three hiking trails dedicated to the history of the Oregon Trail: The Pond Trail, the Sea of Grass Trail, and the Natural Neighbors Trail. The surrounding area is also designated as a Wildlife Area by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Be sure to visit their website to learn more about the area's attractions and activities.

In 1854, the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act created the official boundaries for the Kansas Territory. Before that, permanent settlements in Kansas were not allowed; however, once people were finally given the right to make land purchases in Kansas, those who did so were now fortunate position to start generating income. 

Louis Vieux, who was of mixed Pottawatomie descent, was one of the first people to take advantage of this situation. In 1857, he purchased land with an existing toll bridge over the nearby Vermillion River. His decision was rather lucrative, given that he was able to earn over $300 a day while only charging travelers just $1 for a six-ox team. In addition to managing a toll bridge, he also offered travelers critical supplies for their journey. As a tribal chief, Vieux also managed to also served as an interpreter and helped negotiate treaties between the Pottawatomie Tribe and the Federal Government.^[6]

Today, what remains of Loui Vieux is his family's cemetery, as well as a few burial sites of the preceding pioneers who sadly died from diseases shortly after starting their journey. Though his true legacy never died. The town of Louisville, KS, is named in his honor. Additionally, the town of Belvue, KS, while not confirmed to have been named after his daughter "Belle," might also have been named to honor his family.^[7]

Did you pack your tent? We sure hope so, because you can really immerse yourself in the Oregon Trail by taking advantage of the Oregon Trail RV Park near Westmoreland. While this is indeed a destination for campers and RVs, there is space for pitching tents, so feel free to spend the night, just as those travelers had to over 180 years ago!

Just south of Westmoreland is the Scott Springs Oregon Trail Park, which was a former camping spot for many of the travelers. While many who stumbled upon this area were able to find necessities like water, it's also marked by numerous burial sites for those who were less fortunate. 

Now, let's put things in a more positive light, and perhaps take you to the highlight of the entire journey, Alcove Spring. This was, of course, an extremely relieving sight to find, especially when earlier pioneers, such as Zebulon Pike, left the impression of the Great Plains being akin to a "Great American Desert." Visitors who arrived at Alcove Spring were probably the very first "nature tourists" to ever make it to Kansas. This incredibly awesome place is home to naturally occurring springs, a real treat for those on a 2,000-mile-long journey, especially when you consider many of them were expecting to see a desert.

When people first came to Kansas, they soon realized that trees weren't nearly as abundant as the forested lands back east. Fortunately for the settlers, improvising would be relatively easy once they realized that just beneath the surface layers of the fertile Kansas prairie was a thick bed of hard stone, mostly limestone. As you near the town of Marysville along the Oregon Trail, you'll have the chance to lay eyes on some amazingly beautiful stone buildings, even though many were constructed after the days of the Oregon Trail. The Marshall County Museum is housed in the historic Courthouse building, which was constructed in 1891 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

End your journey where the Pony Express meets the Oregon Trail! The Pony Express was a short-lived courier service that also left a significant mark on Kansas history. While the Pony Express was only around for about 18 months, it did coexist with the Oregon Trail for a short time. This isn't the only attraction in Kansas dedicated to the Pony Express, though. If you've reached the  Hollenberg Station and want to see more about the Pony Express, head East from Hanover to see two additional attractions, the Pony Express Museum in Seneca and the Pony Express Home Station No. 1, Barn & Museum Express in Marysville.