By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Santa Fe Trail is celebrating 200 years of commerce, conflict and culture next year. The year 2021 marks 200 years since the trail began its tenure as a commercial highway that started in 1821. The journey took Americans on horses and in wagons from Franklin, Missouri through Kansas and eventually to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The City of Great Bend is included along the 934-mile
route and Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes has been working all
year to tie in the Santa Fe Trail anniversary to several events next year.
"We will be adding pieces to events," said Hayes. "I don't think we will have an additional event other than trail speakers or something from the Barton County Historical Society."
Hayes says even the Home for the Holidays Parade next year will have a Santa Fe
Trail theme.
"I am really excited about what the library is going to do, children's reading hours dealing with Santa Fe Trail books and the schools will be involved with coloring contests," Hayes said.
It typically took 8-to-10 weeks for travelers to make their way across the entire
trail by wagon. In 1880, the railroad reached Santa Fe; thus, ending the trail.
The National Park Service plans to celebrate the 200th anniversary in
2021 through several events. To find out more about the celebration, visit nps.gov.