Fort Smith-Santa Fe Trail Marcy Route, 1849

Clearly visible to the northeast and southwest are ruts of the Old Fort Smith-Santa Fe Trail, the overland route connecting river ports of Fort Smith and Van Buren, Arkansas with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Route gained national fame when Col. R.B. Marcy, U.S. Army, escorted party of 500 Arkansans--professional and business men and families--over this road in June 1849, on the way to California's gold fields. Scores of goldseekers in smaller groups also used the route that year. Old trail became proposed route in 1853 for first transcontinental railroad as surveyed by Lt. A.W. Whipple. Prior to the Civil War, this route had won Congressional support, but the War shifted sentiment so that Union Pacific, to the northward, actually was built first. During the War, a mail line left the Old Butterfield Stage Route in Eastern Oklahoma and went by way of this point over to Las Vegas and Santa Fe. In 1878 began usage of this link of road for a mail-stage line from the federal fort at Mobeetie, in the Texas Panhandle, to Las Vegas, New Mexico. The trail has not been used since 1888. (1965)

Fort Smith-Santa Fe Trail Marcy Route, 1849 is a historical marker in Amarillo, Potter County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 49 historical markers documented in Potter County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 73 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 35.4657, -101.6362 near Amarillo. The nearest cataloged historic site is Gould, Dr. Charles Newton (historical marker), about 6.4 miles away. Others within a short drive include McBride Ranch House, The Canadian River, and McBride Ranch House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5375002019. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.