Colorado’s State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to announce the approval of amended documentation on the historic Santa Fe Trail by the National Register of Historic Places to include new information on new state-specific information.

DENVER — Colorado’s State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to announce the approval of amended documentation on the historic Santa Fe Trail by the National Register of Historic Places to include new information on new state-specific information. Led by the Kansas SHPO, the project was completed through a joint effort from Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico and Oklahoma — the other four states through which the trail passed — as well as the National Park Service and the Santa Fe Trail Association.



The Santa Fe Trail is recognized by the National Register through a Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF), which permits historic resources that share similar time periods, locations, or historical themes to be grouped together. This type of designation uncovers opportunities for lesser-known resources that may not have the capacity to be recognized individually, but do contribute to a broader scope of history or pattern of events. The Santa Fe Trail is significant for its association with commerce, transportation, military, exploration/settlement, and ethnic heritage, along the historic path, as well as for its rich archaeological potential.



“The completion of the MPDF shows what the partnership among the five Trail states can accomplish, but it also marks the beginning of a long-term study of southeastern Colorado that will enhance our understanding of this influential region,” said Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer and State Historical Fund Director Steve Turner.



Though a few historic sites along the trail have been listed in the National Register, such as Bent County’s Boggsville, the majority have not, including such notable sites as Fort Wise and Bent’s New Fort. In fact, it is estimated that 75-80 percent of the individual historic resources along the Santa Fe Trail in Colorado remain undocumented.



In parallel, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is currently the recipient of a State Historical Fund (SHF) grant for survey and research, including the preparation of 12 to 14 National Register nominations of properties along the Trail, opening the door to a wealth of knowledge about these obscure resources.



Matching funds are provided by the National Park Service and USDA Forest Service. “Documenting the sites along the historic trail will increase our understanding of Colorado history as well as our national legacy of migration and settlement in the West. We are excited to be working with public and private owners and other local partners to understand more about the diverse and rich histories of these relatively unknown sites and to explore the connections between the Colorado landscape and cultural heritage,” said Jim Lindberg of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.



When surveying the trail, in addition to identifying significant properties, Colorado is working to acknowledge the trail’s cultural landscapes, where land patterns and human groups have worked in tandem to shape the resulting environment. In a state where climate and terrain has so dramatically influenced our economy, cultural diversity, and settlement patterns, recognizing these landscapes is vital to determining the overall significance of the Santa Fe Trail.



In an additional effort to raise awareness about this significant historic area, this summer the Colorado Preserve America Youth Summit visited historic sites along the Trail in southeastern Colorado to brainstorm unique ways of enhancing the region’s heritage tourism. The Colorado Preserve America Youth Summit engages teenagers in historic preservation and community development to encourage the upcoming generation to become active participants in both their local communities and the broader scope of American historic sites.



To learn more about the Santa Fe Trail, visit the Santa Fe Trail Association website at www.santafetrail.org, or read the Santa Fe Trail MPDF on History Colorado’s website at http://bit.ly/SantaFeTrailMPDF.



