About Us

Promoting, protecting, preserving history in the Baldwin and Vinland areas and along the Santa Fe Trail since 1967.

In Brief:

  • Located in Baldwin City, Kansas; much communication by email
  • Originally formed in 1967 to preserve local landmarks and history
  • In 2008 joined national Santa Fe Trail Association.
  • Goals:
    • promoting and educating others about the Santa Fe Trail in Douglas County as well as local history
    • preservation and maintenance of historical sites in the Baldwin and Vinland area
  • Sites cared for by the chapter include: Clearfield One Room Schoolhouse, Vinland Grange Hall, Signal Oak, the Palmyra Well, 1906 Santa Fe Depot, more
  • Chapter completed working with multiple local, state, and national groups to construct a new walking trail to view the five main Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts at the Black Jack Park in the Ivan Boyd Memorial Prairie Reserve (on US 56).
  • Individual members and groups pursue and share historical interests.
  • Two potluck suppers held for members every year – followed by a presentation about information related to the Trail or local history.
  • Visitors and guests are always welcome at the suppers and events! (Contact Us)
  • Annual dues are $10/Individual; $20/Family; $5 Student; $200/Life. (Membership Info)

More Information:

In 2008, our local historical society officially became the Douglas County, Kansas, chapter of the national Santa Fe Trail Association.  But the group has long cared for the Santa Fe Trail and history of the Baldwin and Vinland area.

Formation: The Santa Fe Trail Historical Society, located in historical Baldwin City, Kansas, was originally formed in 1967 to preserve local landmarks and history. The society focused on the land and historical sites specific to the Santa Fe Trail. It also included local sites that mark firsts in Kansas such as the Battle of Black Jack – first civil war skirmish, and Baker University – first four year university. This background is reflected in the main goals of the Society which are: promoting and educating others about the Santa Fe Trail in Douglas County and the local history, as well as the preservation and maintenance of historical sites in the Baldwin area. 

Historical Sites: A few of the sites cared for by the Society include: Clearfield One Room Schoolhouse, Vinland Grange Hall, Signal Oak, the Palmyra Well and more.  The group built, maintains and operates the Black Jack Cabin Museum at Black Jack Park.  

History Pamphlets: In 1968, a member of the group compiled a brief history of the area, using primary sources.  Over the next few years, several other pamphlets were produced about historical sites in southern Douglas County.  Dr. Ivan L. Boyd produced many of these pamphlets and they were sold primarily at his Maple Leaf Festival Booth.  Katharine Kelley, another member, organized archives full of information about local historical sites and maintained these in the local library for all to use. Many of these pamphlets and these archives can be found in the Kansas Room of the Baldwin City Public Library today (7th and High Streets). 

The Depot: In 1975, the demolition of the 1906 Santa Fe Depot in Baldwin was halted.  The Society raised funds and provided hundreds of volunteer hours to restore the building.  The group was instrumental in bringing Midland Historical Railway to Baldwin in 1987 and later, the Kansas Belle Dinner Train.  The Society has continued to maintain and care for the Depot and Allen Park ever since.

Local History Tours: The group’s outstanding knowledge of local history delighted audiences in past years during the Maple Leaf Festival bus tours led by the Society. The tours covered many historical areas in and around the Baldwin area. We have resumed the local area historical bus tours during the Maple Leaf Festival. And will be offering them this fall! (Hope you can attend! – Oct 16, 2021) 

Recent Project: Our chapter has recently completed working with multiple local, state, and national groups to construct a new walking trail  to view the five main Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts at the Black Jack Park in the Ivan Boyd Memorial Prairie Reserve (on US 56). These ruts are the finest on the Trail according to the National Santa Fe Trail Association.  The new trail provides ADA access to viewing the ruts and will soon have educational signage.  The walking trail was dedicated on June 5, 2021 as we commemorated the 200 year opening of the Santa Fe Trail. (See June 2021 article in In the News! Archives section.)

Activities: In addition to these activities, individual members and groups pursue and share historical interests.  The Society has two potluck suppers for members each year. These suppers provide time for fellowship and good food. They are followed by a presentation about information related to the Trail or local history. Visitors and guests are always welcome at the suppers and events. If you are interested in the Trail or local history, let us know!

Membership: If you would like to join our local group, Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County, annual dues are $5/Individual; $10/Family; $35/Institutional (Business, Professional, or Organization); $100/Life.

And: check out the national Santa Fe Trail Association!  Their emails and publications are fabulous – very interesting and informative. 

-MJ 4/2021