1823 Liberty Dime from Soldier Creek Crossing, 14OS1302
Date: 1823
This Liberty dime was recovered at a Santa Fe trail stream crossing site in Osage County. The silver dime, minted in 1823, is a type called "Capped Bust," meaning it was struck over a 1822 Liberty dime with the "3" of 1823 directly on top of the "2" of the 1822 date. The site was the focus of a 1995 Kansas Archeology Training Program event with Kansas Historical Society archeologists and volunteers from the Kansas Anthropological Association.

1853 Half Dime from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1853-1868
This silver half dime was recovered from Fort Zarah during the 1969 Kansas Archeological Training Program field school, a joint project undertaken by Kansas Historical Society archeologists and Kansas Anthropological Association volunteers. The obverse side shows a Seated Liberty with her right hand resting on a striped shield and her left hand holding a Liberty pole. Six-pointed stars surround Liberty and arrows are present on each side of the date of 1853. The reverse side has the words "HALF DIME" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves. Fort Zarah, located along the Santa Fe trail in Barton County, was active from 1864 to 1869.

1995 Excavations at the Havana Stage Station, 14OS1301
Date: 1995
Shown are eleven images taken during the excavation at the Havana Stage Station in Osage County during the Kansas Archeology Training Program field school in 1995. The Havana Stage Station was built along the Santa Fe trail in 1858 and by the early 1870s had ceased to function as station and became part of the outbuildings of a farm. Shown is a view of the former station taken in the 1950s, a sketch of the site in 1995, a sketch of the station ruins in 1995, five views of the station's foundations and walls, two views of mapping and recordkeeping, and the nearby stone corral.

.58 Caliber Minie Balls from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1855-1869
These five minie balls were excavated at Fort Zarah in 1972 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists at the site of the original fort building. The minie balls are .58 caliber, have three grease grooves and conical or hollow bases. The fort was a small outpost on the Santa Fe trail in Barton County occupied from 1864 to 1869.

Act establishing commission for treaties with Osage Indians a creation of trail
Date: March 3, 1825
This act was written establishing a commission to make treaties with the Osage Indians to create the Santa Fe Trail and treaties with the Osage tribes.

A Cup and a Bowl from the Baker House, 14MO701
Date: 1862
This reconstructed cup and bowl was found in pieces during excavations in 1972 by the Kansas State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) field school. The bowl has a red, black and green floral design, though difficult to see. The handless cup has a red, white and blue linear pattern. Both dishes were reconstructed by students at the field school. They were donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1993. The Baker store and nearby house were situated along the Santa Fe trail. The owner, A. I. Baker, was murdered in 1862 by "Bloody Bill" Anderson and his cohorts, who also burned the store and house.

Adjustable Buckle from the Baker House, 14MO701
Date: 1862
This brass adjustable buckle was recovered during excavations at the Baker house in Morris County, undertaken by Emporia State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) archeological field school in 1972. The badly burned buckle is decorated at the top and along the strap opening with floral patterns. The site, along the Santa Fe Trail in Morris County, was the location of the Baker house, which burned in 1862, along with the nearby store, during the murder of the proprietor A.I. Baker by "Bloody Bill" Anderson and his cohorts.

Arrival of the Caravan at Santa Fe
Date: Between 1844 and 1845
This illustration from Josiah Gregg's Commerce on the Prairies depicts a caravan of Americans arriving in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Santa Fe Trail, opened in 1821 by William Bucknell, served as a freight route and passed through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico.

As The Old Santa Fe Trail Looks Today
Creator: Palenske, Louis F., 1858-1943
Date: 1930
This is a monograph by Louis Palenske, addressing the Old Santa Fe Trail as it looked in 1930 shortly after the author traveled the length of the trail by car, taking panoramic photographs along the route. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Ball and Cone Earrings from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1864-1868
These three ball and cone earrings were excavated at Fort Zarah in 1969 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. The fort was a small outpost on the Santa Fe trail in Barton County occupied from 1864 to 1869. The trading post, where these earrings were located, burned in 1868. Ball and cone earrings were a popular trade item. Two of these are missing their cones. The remaining cone has been flattened.

Banded Ware from the Baker Store, 14MO701
Date: 1862
These decorated whiteware sherds were recovered from the Baker store in Morris County by the Emporia State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) archeological field school in 1973. The three rim and body sherds are decorated with banded or annular ware by using a slip applied in bands of varying width and colors. These sherds were among the few from the site that were broken, but not burned. The Baker store and nearby house were situated along the Santa Fe trail. The owner, A. I. Baker, was murdered in 1862 by "Bloody Bill" Anderson and his cohorts, who also burned the store and house.

Banded Ware Pitcher from the Baker House, 14MO701
Date: 1862
This pitcher fragment was recovered from the Baker house in Morris County by the Emporia State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) archeological field school in 1972. The collection was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1993. The small pitcher is banded or annular ware decorated by an applied slip of bands of varying width below a curving band. The Baker store and nearby house were situated along the Santa Fe trail. The owner, A. I. Baker, was murdered in 1862 by "Bloody Bill" Anderson and his cohorts, who also burned the store and house.

Bent's Fort, Colorado
Creator: Palenske, Louis F., 1858-1943
Date: 1928-1938
This panorama was taken from Bent's Fort on the Old Santa Fe Trail, about nine miles west of Lamar, Colorado. In this view, looking west, we see the Arkansas River as well as the remains of old Fort Lyon. This photo was created by Louis Palenske using a Korona Panoramic View Camera. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Bent's Fort, Colorado marker
Creator: Palenske, Louis F., 1858-1943
Date: Around 1928
Louis Palenske photographed all of the points of historic interest along the Old Santa Fe Trail. This is his view of the historic marker at the location of Bent's Fort in southeastern Colorado on the Old Santa Fe Trail. On the reverse of the photo is written, "Marker designating the spot where old Bent's Fort stood. Built in 1828, destroyed in 1852. Photo by L. Palenske." Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Bottle from the McGee/Harris Stage Station, 14OS399
Date: 1821-1970
This small clear glass bottle was recovered at the McGee/Harris Stage Station site in Osage County. The bottle has a reinforced finish and was closed with a cork or stopper. The site was the focus of a 1995 Kansas Archeology Training Program event with Kansas Historical Society archeologists and volunteers from the Kansas Anthropological Association.

Bowl with James Edwards Registry Mark from the Baker House, 14MO701
Date: 1862
This partial serving bowl was recovered during excavations in 1972 by the Kansas State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) archaeological field school. Some of the sherds of the octagonal shaped shallow bowl were burned while others are stained. The back of the bowl shows the Registry mark for James Edwards of Burslem, England. Dish shapes were registered to prevent copying. It was donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1993. The Baker house and nearby store were situated along the Santa Fe trail. The owner, A. I. Baker, was murdered in 1862 by "Bloody Bill" Anderson and his cohorts, who also burned the store and house.

Brass Bracelet from the Mahaffie Farmstead and Stagecoach Stop, 14JO356
Date: 1858-1886
The brass fragments shown here came from a single bracelet that was recovered during excavations in 1988 during a joint venture between Kansas Historical Society archeologists, Kansas Anthropological Association volunteers, and the City of Olathe. There are very few hints of the delicate bracelet's former shine. The Mahaffie Farmstead and Stagecoach Stop was the residence and out buildings of James and Lucinda Mahaffie, built in 1858. The farmstead later served as a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe trail.

Brass Button from Kaw Mission, 14MO368
Date: 1834-1843
This brass 4-hole sew through button was recovered at the Kaw Mission during the 2018 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school. It was made by the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut. The company produced brass buttons from 1834-1843. The Kaw Mission State Historic Site was built over the winter of 1850 - 1851 by the Methodist Episcopal Church South as a school for boys in the Kaw (or Kansa) tribe. The site was acquired by the state of Kansas in 1951 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

Brass Plate from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1864-1868
This brass plate was excavated at Fort Zarah in 1969 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists. The plate advertises "BEARD & BRO" of "ST. LOUIS, MO." This may be a reference to the Beard and Brother company of St. Louis, established in 1848, that manufactured safes, vaults, cotton ties, and a nut-lock for safes. The fort was a small outpost on the Santa Fe trail in Barton County occupied from 1864 to 1869. The trading post building within the post, where the plate was found, burned in 1868.

Brown and Desnoyers Shoe Company, Diamond Springs, Kansas
Date: 1880s
This photograph shows the exterior of a store selling boots and shoes in Diamond Springs, Kansas. The sign reads, "Brow[n & D]esnoyers Shoe Co. Boots/Shoes for sale here." A family of six, two men and a team of horses are visible in the photograph.

Buckle and Snap from the Havana Stage Station, 14OS1301
Date: 1858-1880
This buckle frame and snap were recovered from the Havana Stage Station site along the Santa Fe trail in Osage County. It is unclear if they were used on a draft animal harness or for clothing. The front of the snap has faint, unreadable lettering. The Havana Stage Station was built in 1858 and was used as a farmstead after the station was closed. The site was a focus of the Kansas Archeology Training Program field school in 1995.

Buffalo hides in Dodge City, Kansas
Date: April 4, 1874
This photograph, taken in Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas, shows a large pile of buffalo hides obtained from hunting expeditions in western Kansas. It is estimated that the pile contains around 40,000 hides. Charles Rath, who purchased the hides, is seated on the pile. The men in the background are operating a hide baling machine. Dodge City was located on the Santa Fe Trail. During the period in which these hides were gathered, American hunters decimated the bison heards in the West, leaving Native American tribes without one of their primary sources for food, clothing, and tools.

Bullet Casing Encased in Plaster from Fort Zarah, 14BT301
Date: 1864-1869
This brass bullet case was excavated at Fort Zarah in 1972 by Kansas Historical Society archeologists at the site of the original fort building. At some time the case was incorporated into plaster. It has a head stamp of "J. G." indicating it was made for a Spencer gun. The fort was a small military outpost on the Santa Fe trail in Barton County occupied from 1864 to 1869.

Buttons from Fort Dodge, 14FD315
Date: 1865-1882
These buttons were recovered from Fort Dodge in Ford County during excavation by Kansas Historical Society archeologists in 1996. Shown are 2-hole buttons made of shell and hard rubber. The fort was located on one of the camping grounds at the intersection of the dry and wet routes of the Santa Fe Trail. The fort's primary mission was to protect wagons on the trail.

Buttons from the Baker House, 14MO701
Date: 1862
These buttons were recovered during excavations at the Baker house, in Morris County, undertaken by Emporia State Teacher's College (now Emporia State University) archeological field school in 1972. They are made of white glass and are all a four-hole dish style. The site, along the Santa Fe Trail in Morris County, was the location of the Baker house, which burned in 1862, along with the nearby store, during the murder of the proprietor A.I. Baker by "Bloody Bill" Anderson and his cohorts.