Abstract of journals from the 1845 Kearny Expedition
Date: 1846
This excerpt from the congressional report of the Secretary of War includes the abstracts of two journals, one by Lieutenant William B. Franklin, a topographical engineer, and another by Lieutenant H.S. Turner of the 1st dragoons stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Under the command of Stephen Kearny, the 1st dragoons and their accompanying engineers left Fort Leavenworth on a military march, heading northwest on what would become the Oregon Trail, down along the Rocky Mountains to Mexican territory, and back up via the Santa Fe Trail. This march was intended as a display of the United States' military power to both native tribes and the British government (which at this time was exerting its authority over Oregon Territory). For the most part this abstract details their route, but it does include a transcription of a conversation between Kearny and a Sioux chief named Bull Tail.

Buttons from the Plowboy Site, 14SH372
Date: 1840-1950
These six buttons were collected from the Plowboy site in Shawnee County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. The Plowboy site was home to the Kansa, the Potawatomi, and Euro-Americans. At various times, the site contained a farm, a trading post, and a post office with nearby military trails, Mormon routes, a railroad and the California-Oregon trail. Shown on the top row are a black plastic four hole coat button, a shell two hole coat button, and a faceted pink glass button with a loop back. Those on the bottom row include two shell two hole buttons, one of a fish-eye style and the other decorated with incised squares and cross hatching. The final artifact is a metal button front with the profile of a Greek or Roman lady.

Chronology of the Iowa and Sac and Fox Indians in Doniphan County, Kansas
Date: 1882
This chronology details major events occurring between 1837-1855 among the Iowa and Sac and Fox Indians who had been relocated to Kansas after the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Topics mentioned within the chronology include warfare among relocated tribes, the arrival of white emigrants, disease, mission buildings, and treaties ceding land to the United States government. During the period covered in this item unfolded a large number of white settlers began moving into the lands that the tribes occupied, especially after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854.

Courthouse in Independence, Missouri
Creator: Meyer, Herrmann J.
Date: 1854
A copy of an engraving of the courthouse in Independence, Missouri. The reproduction first appeared in "United States Illustrated" and depicts the early settlement of Independence and its courthouse. Located along the Kansas and Missouri border, the town was considered the "Queen City of Trails" because it was the point of departure for the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails.

Decorated Dish Fragments from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These dish fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. A wide variety of decorated dishes were recovered from the site with transferware, banded ware, and hand painted patterns. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Decorated Dish Fragments from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
These dish fragments were recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. A wide variety of decorated dishes were recovered from the site including shell-edged, transferware, banded ware, hand painted, and Rockingham patterns. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Excavations at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1991
These black and white photographs were taken before and during the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Shown are a view of the Pony Express Station prior to being lifted off its foundation and after it was moved to the side so excavation could occur. Also shown are two progress views of the work during the field school, an ash covered, packed surface interpreted as an original dirt floor, room 6 after excavation, and a final view of the excavations. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other out buildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Flow Blue Dishes from the Plowboy Site, 14SH372
Date: 1840-1930
These two rim sherds were collected from the Plowboy site in Shawnee county and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. Though small, one can tell that the transferware pattern was deliberately blurred, a hallmark of flow blue patterns. The Plowboy site was home to the Kansa, the Potawatomi, and Euro-Americans. At various times, the site contained a farm, a trading post, and a post office with nearby military trails, Mormon routes, a railroad and the California-Oregon trail.

Gunflint from Uniontown, 14SH336
Date: 1848-1858
This gunflint was recovered from Uniontown in Shawnee County. Gunflints were used to generate a spark in a flintlock musket or pistol to ignite the gunpowder and as strike-a-lights for lighting a fire. The square gunflint is made from local chert and has been lightly used on all sides. Uniontown was first a Potawatomie trading post established in 1848 near the Oregon Trail crossing on the Kansas River. A village grew around the trading post, but was ravaged by cholera in 1849-1850 and abandoned in 1858.

History of Kansas and emigrant's guide
Creator: Chapman, J. Butler
Date: 1855
The title page of the printed volume indicated that it contained "a description geographical and topographical--also climate, soil, productions and comparative value with other states and territories, including its political history, officers-candidates-emigrant colonies-election, abolition, squatter and pro-slavery contentions and inquisitions; with the prospects of the territory for freedom or slavery." Mr. Chapman was a resident of the territory and the information in the booklet was compiled by traveling through Kansas Territory in 1854. The description covers most of the territory and includes information about Native American tribes and lands.

Horseshoes from the Plowboy Site, 14SH372
Date: 1840-1930
These three horseshoes were among the many that were collected from the Plowboy site in Shawnee county and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. Horseshoes are what most horses wear to support the hoof. All three of the shoes are complete with grooves, called fullers, that allow for the nail to be driven into the hoof. The Plowboy site was home to the Kansa, the Potawatomi, and Euro-Americans. At various times, the site contained a farm, a trading post, and a post office with nearby military trails, Mormon routes, a railroad and the California-Oregon trail.

Hunting Knife from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station
Date: 1857-1940
This hunting knife was recovered from a metal detector survey at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Shown is the blade, tang, and butt. It may have had a leather handle. The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Independence Rock, Wyoming
Creator: Palenske, Louis F., 1858-1943
Date: 1930-1936
Louis Palenske photographed one of the most famous of all of the landmarks along the Oregon Trail, Independence Rock, a large granite formation where many early Oregon Trail travelers carved their names, initials and messages. Funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Jewelry Box from the Plowboy Site, 14SH372
Date: 1840-1950
This ornate container, possibly a jewelry box, was collected from the Plowboy site in Shawnee County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. The box may be made of tin covered in gilt and once had a hinged lid. It is ornately decorated with flourishes and floral patterns and stands on four curved legs. The Plowboy site was home to the Kansa, the Potawatomi, and Euro-Americans. At various times, the site contained a farm, a trading post, and a post office with nearby military trails, Mormon routes, a railroad and the California-Oregon trail.

Kansas and Nebraska
Creator: Wells, J.G.
Date: 1856
Map detailing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and surrounding states. Identified on the map are rivers, Indian lands, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Oregon Trail. This map is provided through a co-operative project between the Lecompton Historical Society and the Kansas Historical Society. Partial funding was provided by the Ross and Margaret Wulfkuhle Charitable Trust and the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area. Copies of this map are available for viewing at both the Kansas Historical Society and Lecompton Historical Society.

Kansas : early routes, old trails, historic sites, landmarks, etc.
Creator: Root, George A. (George Allen), 1867-1949
Date: 1939 December
This map, created by George Allen Root and later reproduced by the Kansas Turnpike Authority, depicts trails, landmarks, and historic sites in the state of Kansas. The original map was compiled by George Allen Root and delineated by W. M. Hutchinson from information obtained from the Kansas State Historical Society.

Key Plate from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
This key plate was recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. The fancy plate allowed access to the lock tumblers by the key. The site was the location of a Pony Express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Kroh Collection. Group 2: Oregon and California Trails
Creator: Kroh, C. Lee
Date: Between 1975 and 1995
This series includes tracings of the historic route of the Oregon and California trails in the Kansas City region, as plotted on US Geological Survey quadrangle maps by Lee Kroh. The Lee and Dorothy Kroh Collection of the Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association archives is archived at the Mabee Learning Commons on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) in Olathe, Kansas. Collection findings aids are available through the links below. For index maps of each state see unit 505738.

Lice Comb from the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, 14WH316
Date: 1857-1941
This lice comb was recovered from the 1991 Kansas Archeology Training Program field school at the Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Washington County. Lice combs have tightly spaced teeth to remove the lice nits from the hair and scalp. A partial manufacturer's name is visible: "U. COMB CO." The site was the location of a pony express station, a stop on the Oregon-California trail, a post office, a blacksmith shop, and a farm with barns and other outbuildings. The site was purchased by the Kansas Legislature in 1941 and is in the National Register of Historic Places.

Map of the route pursued by the late expedition under the command of Col. Stephen Watts Kearny
Creator: Franklin, William Buel, 1823-1903
Date: 1845
This map, included in the Report of the Secretary of War, illustrates the route taken by Stephen Watts Kearny and the 1st Dragoons in an 1845 expedition. This expedition began in Fort Leavenworth and proceeded on a circular march, heading northwest on what would later become the Oregon Trail, down along the Rocky Mountains to Mexican territory, and back up via the Santa Fe Trail. This march was intended as a display of the United States' military power, both for the benefit of local Indian tribes and also for the British government, which at this time was trying to exert control over Oregon Territory. The map was drawn by a topgraphical engineer named Lieutenant William B. Franklin. It was published in U.S. serial set 480.

Map showing lines of the Great Overland Stage Route...
Creator: Marsh, Roy D.
Date: 1901
This map shows the routes of the Great Overland Stage Route, the Santa Fe Trail, Butterfield Overland Dispatch, Mormon Route of 1847, and the Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express.

Marbles from the Plowboy Site, 14SH372
Date: 1850-1950
These three marbles were collected from the Plowboy site in Shawnee County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. Two of the marbles are made of glass with a swirl pattern. One of the glass marble has white paint glued to the artifact from the time the donor had it on display. The ceramic marble has Bennington decoration. The Plowboy site was home to the Kansa, the Potawatomi, and Euro-Americans. At various times, the site contained a farm, a trading post, and a post office with nearby military trails, Mormon routes, a railroad and the California-Oregon trail.

Mortise Locks and Keys from the Plowboy Site, 14SH372
Date: 1840-1950
These locks and keys were collected from the Plowboy site in Shawnee County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. Each of the locks has the key that opened it. The lock on the left is a mortise lock, which was placed within a mortise in a door. The lock on the right is a surface-mount lock, which was screwed onto the exterior of a door. The Plowboy site was home to the Kansa, the Potawatomi, and Euro-Americans. At various times, the site contained a farm, a trading post, and a post office with nearby military trails, Mormon routes, a railroad and the California-Oregon trail.

Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup Bottle from the Plowboy Site, 14SH372
Date: 1849-1930
The patent medicine bottle shown here was collected from the Plowboy site in Shawnee County and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 2017. The medicine was made first by Mrs. Charlotte Winslow and marked by Curtis and Perkins, her sons-in-law. One of the ingredients in the soothing syrup was morphine, indeed providing the "soothing," but also drawing incriminations from the American Medical Association by 1911. It remained on the market for another 19 years. The donor painted the embossed lettering for emphasis. The Plowboy site was home to the Kansa, the Potawatomi, and Euro-Americans. At various times, the site contained a farm, a trading post, and a post office with nearby military trails, Mormon routes, a railroad and the California-Oregon trail.

National Old Trail's road
Date: Between 1920 and 1925
These are notes and maps about the National Old Trail's Road, a route that stretched from Boston, Massachusetts to San Francisco, California. The National Old Trail's Road was established in 1912 and crossed the length of Kansas, intersecting such famous trails as the Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon Trail.