Welcome to the Official

Santa Fe Trail Association

Santa Fe National Historic Trail National Trails System

The Santa Fe Trail Association is composed of people of all ages and walks of life who are bound together by an interest in the fascinating saga of the Trail, and an interest in preserving its many physical traces and landmarks that still exist upon the face of the American West. While many of them live in the immediate vicinity of the Trail, the SFTA is proud to claim members from all over the United States.

In 1821, the Santa Fe Trail became America's first great international commercial highway, and for nearly sixty years thereafter was one of the nation's great routes of adventure and western expansion. Mindful of this, the Santa Fe Trail Association (SFTA), a non-profit association with a 501 (c)(3) status, was created in 1986 to help protect and preserve it. The U.S. Congress likewise recognized the significance of the Trail to American history by proclaiming it a National Historic Trail in 1987.

The Santa Fe Trail Lives On!

Santa Fe Trail Association

The Santa Fe Trail Association and our Chapters continue to make plans to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Santa Fe Trail to trade.
READ FULL STORY   2021-2025 STATEMENT

For more information about the Santa Fe Trail 200th, and events being planned, visit our website at: www.santafetrail200.org

 

 

SYMPOSIUM 2023

Symposium 2023

Save the Date: September 27-30, 2023
Independence, MO
for more information

SPEAKERS

REGISTRATION

 

 

SYMPOSIUM 2025

Symposium 2025

Save the Date: September 24–27, 2025
Council Grove, KS
for more information

 

 

SCHOLARLY RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE

Information and the Application for a Scholarly Research Grant is available HERE.

 

 

 

SANTA FE TRAIL RECOMMENDED READING

"Tales of the Trail" PODCAST

Tales of the Trail PODCAST
Tales of the Trail PODCAST

 

Join Deb Goodrich and Michael Martin Murphey each week for "Tales of the Trail" podcast, hosted by Truckers Radio USA.

 

 

VISIT THE LAST CHANCE STORE

The SFTA Last Chance Store, founded as part of the Santa Fe Trail Association in 1987 and operated entirely by volunteers, offers books, maps, prints, posters, pins, music, and other items related to the Trail. You can also sign-up or renew your SFTA membership, or make a donation to the SFTA through the Last Chance Store.


 

 

 

SFTA Projects:

Logged entry created: 8/2/2014 by dramaman59
". . . I have thoroughly enjoyed this tour and would recommend it to anyone that is interested in geocaching and for the history that I learned about the Santa Fe Trail! Thank you to the association for the terrific tour!"

 

 

Junior Wagon Master

Students of all ages can go on this adventure! Complete activity booklets as you visit the Trail and when you finish a section, you can earn a patch (see below).

To be a Junior Wagon Master for the Santa Fe National Historic Trail, go here and Read More

When you've completed your activities, scan and e-mail them to: info@santafetrail.org

 

 

 

SFNHTSFTA Chapters Partner with NPS and Communities to place signs that will help you find and explore the many places and stories of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. Read More

Use Technology to Discover the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. #discoverSFNHT


Visit our 52 Ways Pinterest Board


Dodge City/Ft. Dodge/Cimarron Chapter Markers

 

 

Interactive Trail Map

Explore the Santa Fe Trail online with the SFTA Interactive Trail Map!
Explore Now

Visit the NPS Interactive Map



"Chapter & Membership Tools"



"Trail to Santa Fe"

Selected as the Official Song of the Santa Fe Trail Association
more information
listen to the song

Annie Wilson

 

 

A Few Hiking Trails

Looking for a place to enjoy the Santa Fe Trail? There are many places along the Trail to hike, bike, or enjoy nature.
A Few Hiking Trails          Explore the Trail

 

 

"Kansas Historical Society Virtual Classroom featuring the Santa Fe Trail"



*Photos courtesy of Ruth Friesen and Joanne VanCoevern.     SFTA Photo Release Form

Our Mission
The mission of the Santa Fe Trail Association is to protect and preserve the Santa Fe Trail and to promote awareness of the historical legacy associated with it.  The Santa Fe Trail Association's purposes are exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.