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.

A map showing the location of the farming and grazing lands of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad company in the fertile valley of the Arkansas River in Kansas
Creator: Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company
Date: 1892
This brochure advertises the advantages of settling in south central and western Kansas. Included are a photograph of the Beeson farm near Dodge City, Kansas, and a full width map of the Arkansas Valley in Kansas. Also included are testimonials by numerous settlers and descriptions of Rush, Finney, Ford, Pawnee, Gray and Kearney Counties.

Arkansas City residents to Governor Willis Bailey
Creator: Commercial Club of Arkansas City
Date: March 17, 1903
Community residents and members of the Commercial Club of Arkansas City send a resolution to Governor Bailey recommending the retention of ex-attorney General Goddard in the case of Kansas vs Colorado now pending in the United States Supreme Court.

Arkansas River, Dodge City, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1919
This black-and-white photograph shows a horse-drawn wagon hauling hay across the steel girder bridge over the Arkansas River in Dodge City, Kansas.

Arkansas River, Garden City, Kansas
Date: July 1878
This photograph shows a view of the Arkansas River in Garden City, Kansas.

Arkansas River, Garden City, Kansas
Date: Between 1870s and 1890s
This photograph shows a group of people standing on a bridge over the Arkansas River in Garden City, Kansas. The river is full of water in the spring due to the melting snows in the Colorado mountains.

Arkansas River, Garden City, Kansas
Date: Between 1870s and 1890s
This photograph shows a lack of water in the Arkansas River in Garden City, Kansas. Several people can be seen standing on the bridge.

Arkansas River, Syracuse, Hamilton County, Kansas
Date: Between 1905 and 1909
This is a photograph of people in a boat on the Arkansas River, Syracuse, Kansas. Visible in the background is a bridge.

Arkansas River, Syracuse, Hamilton County, Kansas
Creator: Kidwell, W. W.
Date: October 20, 1908
This is a photograph of the Arkansas River, Syracuse, Kansas. A bridge is visible in the background.

Arkansas River and bridge, Cimarron, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
This photograph shows the Arkansas River and bridge at Cimarron, Kansas. The town of Cimarron is visible on the far shore.

Arkansas River bridge, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows the Arkansas River Bridge in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas. The photograph shows people on the bridge. The inside rails of the bridge are inscribed with advertisements or signs of some type.

Arkansas River bridge, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
This photograph shows the Arkansas River bridge in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas. Several people are visible on and near the bridge.

Arkansas River bridge, Garden City, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1895 and 1900
A photograph showing people on the Arkansas River bridge in Garden City, Kansas.

Arkansas River flooding, Cimarron, Kansas
Date: June 9, 1921
This panoramic photograph shows the Arkansas River flooding near Cimarron, Kansas.

Arkansas River flowing through Wichita, Kansas
Date: Between 1900 and 1910
This photograph is either looking upriver (east) from the Woodman Bridge (on Nims Street) or upriver (north) from the Murdock Avenue Bridge, in Wichita, Kansas.

Arkansas River from bridge, Garden City, Finney County, Kansas
Creator: Wolf, Henry L. 1850-1924
Date: Between 1890 and 1900
The photograph shows a view of the Arkansas River from a bridge in Garden City, Finney County, Kansas.

Arkansas River near Mount Hope, Kansas
Date: Between 1905 and 1910
This is a postcard view of the Arkansas River near Mount Hope, Kansas.

Arkansas River scene, Kansas
Date: Between 1890 and 1910
This is a photograph of the Arkansas River showing sandbars and tree-lined banks.

"Aunt Sally" steamboat on the Arkansas River
Date: 1878
A view of a large crowd of people aboard the steamboat "Aunt Sally" as it lies docked somewhere along the Arkansas River in Kansas. The boat is riding low in the water because of the weight of the crowd aboard it. Note that the photograph image is backward (see the reversed name on the paddle wheel housing near the stern).

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.

Bird's Eye View of Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas
Creator: Morse, D. D
Date: 1875
This colored lithograph is a bird's eye view of Great Bend, the county seat of Barton County. Great Bend is located on the Arkansas River and the route of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. The Courthouse is visible in its own "square." The image also shows the business district, churches, a school, and residences but no buildings are identified. Street names are given. This lithograph was done fairly early in the town's existence. The image was drawn by D. D. Morse and published by Lott & Zeuch Lithograph, Chicago, Illinois.

Bird's Eye View of Kinsley, Edwards County, Kansas
Creator: Morse, D. D
Date: 1878
This colored lithograph is a bird's eye view of Kinsley, Kansas, the county seat of Edwards County, Kansas. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad ran through the town. This lithograph was done in 1878, fairly early in the town's history. The streets are named but the structures are not identified. The business district is shown as well as at least one church and some homes. There is a herd of cattle in the lower right corner of the image. The Arkansas River is in the upper left corner of the the drawing. The lithograph was drawn by D. D. Morse and published by Lott & Zeuch Lithograph, Chicago, Illinois

Bird's eye view of Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas
Creator: Beck & Pauli
Date: 1882
This black and white lithograph shows Dodge City, Kansas, from a bird's eye view in 1882. The population was given as 1200. Street names are printed on the lithograph. The key at the bottom identifes public building, churches, schools, businesses including two newspapers and five hotels, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad depot, and some industries. The Arkansas River is shown in the lower right corner of the image. The numbers and letters from the key can be difficult to locate on the lithograph. There is some damage in the lower left corner of the lithograph.

Bridge over Arkansas River, Wichita, Kansas
Date: 1878
These two photographs show the first bridge over the Arkansas River at Douglas Avenue in Wichita, Kansas. The 800 ft long structure was built in 1872.

By the President of the United States, a proclamation: whereas it appears that the public good will be promoted by eliminating certain lands within the State of Kansas from the Kansas National Forest
Creator: Taft, William Howard, 1857-1930
Date: February 24, 1913
This proclamation by President William H. Taft changes the boundaries of the Kansas National Forest. The original forest boundaries are illustrated on the diagram from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The forest was located west of Garden City and south of the Atchison, Topeka, and Sante Fe Railroad in Finney, Haskell, Grant, Kearny, and Hamilton counties. The proclamation excludes land west of Syracuse, Kansas and east of the Colorado border.