Three Trails West Chapter
Stilwell, Kansas
Organized October 12, 1996
Origin of Chapter Name
The story of America's westward movement is, at heart, the story of the men and women who helped shape the character of a nation. They lived a stirring epic. From the Missouri-Kansas border three trails pointed west. The Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails all had their origins in the Kansas City area.
The Santa Fe Trail was approximately 800 miles long,
with one-half of it in Kansas. It was primarily the highway for commerce, and travel was rapid. The Oregon and California Trails were slower and were considered the "homesteaders" highways. Traveling about twenty miles per day, the journey took most immigrants four to five months.
The Oregon Trail was approximately 2000 miles long. It headed west to Oregon City on the Willamette River. An offshoot of it was the California Trail which ended in Sacramento. Its eastern half was the same as the Oregon Trail. At the peak of migration in 1850, approximately 55,000 pioneers traveled the trails. Although most immigrants merely swept through Kansas country with their eyes on the West, they indirectly affected the region. Civilization now was both west and east of Kansas. The trails played a major role in helping Kansas emerge from obscurity.
The three trails west, winding from Johnson County, Kansas, undoubtedly shaped the character of our nation. Even today, our Nation's character is being shaped and will continue strong into the future because of the new
Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter. Our chapter is a new venture of which we are very proud. The objectives of the National Society and Three Trails West Chapter are to Promote Education, Foster Patriotism, and Preserve Our Historical Heritage.
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