Diary entries of many later travelers remarked on the grave. Independence is the site of the National Frontier Trails Center, just north of the Santa Fe Trail Park. Located on the old Oregon-California Trail, this historic site was the stopping place for many wagon trains, including the famed Donner Party. Others strengthened axles and repaired wagon wheels. Alcove Spring. It was at Alcove Springs that the Donner party suffered their first loss. Travelers along the trail gave the springs its name. Some wrote home about the beautiful area, and it became a regular stopping place along the trail for later pioneers. Aug 6, 2012 - Alcove Springs was a stop along the Oregon Trail / California Trail near - Blue Rapids, Kansas. This county was well known to early-day traders and "mountain men" as well as to later travelers to the Far West. Dated May 26, exactly 163 years ago to the day! Doug Neidholdt/AllTrails It's a beautiful half-mile trail based around a historic site going back hundreds of years, travelers of all kinds used this spring as a source of fresh water. The ruts are preserved today and marked by a monument in Minor Park. altogether one of the most romantic spots I ever saw." The Donner… | California trail, Oregon trail pioneers, Oregon trail. The emigrants who would later form the Donner Party traveled with the Russell Party from Independence, Missouri to Alcove Springs in the Indian Territory, in what is now Kansas. His description is as follows: His description is as follows: "About three-fourths of a mile from our camp we found a large spring of water, as cold and pure as if it had just been melted from ice. The bank of this stream on the eastern side was so steep, and the ford in other respects so difficult, that we were detained several hours in crossing it. ], 19 and from their wee Crossed the Cau river and went about five miles and Camped. Both Fremont and Carson stayed there for about a week during 1842. The dated entries below are from the diary of Hiram Miller and James F. Reed. George McKinstry’s diary recorded the motions, which led to: Bryant describes the efforts to cross the Big Blue: While the Russell Company waited for the water to fall, they were joined by other parties, including the Murphy family, as recalled by William Murphy in his 1896 speech at Truckee: We concluded to overtake them, which we did at the Big Blue, in Kansas, where they were water bound. On May 29, 1846, Sarah Keyes, a blind and deaf 70-year-old member of the party who had been suffering from what was called … She was the mother-in-law of one of the group's leaders, James Reed. Eerie, but thrilling too. Blue Ridge Road in Kansas City, photographed 1998, 14 15 Camped at Heart Grove Jackson County near the Indian line twenty two miles from Independence on the Big blue. Overlook at the site of Independence Crossing. I followed the company’s general direction up Kansas-99, across Kansas-9 and up US Route 77 to the Big Blue River Crossing (now known as Independence Crossing). On the way to the Wakarusa, the party turned off the Santa Fe Trail onto the California and Oregon Trail. The Center is operated by the Oregon California Trails Association, and has extensive exhibits about the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails and the early emigrants. Across the road from the Alcove Springs park is another park commemorating the Oregon Trail and features history, wagon swales and a D.A.R. . 18 and from thire wee Camped near the Creek 20 miles from plain Spring. This lovely oasis, consisting of a cold-water spring surrounded by a ledge of rocks, was named by Edwin Bryant on May 27, 1846, who was traveling with the ill-fated Donner Party who passed by in the spring of that year. Utah-bound Mormons and California-bound goldseekers followed, for only a short distance above was Independence Crossing, the famous ford across the Big Blue river. One member of the Donner Party — Sarah Keys, Margaret Reed’s mother — died here of … John C. Fremont and his 1842 exploring expedition bivouacked at the Springs, and Marcus Whitman, with a thousand emigrants to Oregon, stopped there in 1843. It is located about four miles north of Blue Rapids. The Alcove Springs Trail And Waterfall In Kansas. On April 15, 1846 the families of James Fraser Reed and George and Jacob Donner, comprising 31 people in 9 wagons, left Springfield, Illinois for California. Alcove Springs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This letter is in the collection of the James Keyes papers of the Illinois State Historical Library, Springfield, Illinois, and is excerpted here with their permission. 1). According to Hill, the rock has been defaced since this photo was taken. Originally there were 87 members of the Donner party. The Venue: Alcove Spring Historic Park. Alcove Spring, near Marysville, Kansas. The crossing to the north bank of the Kansas River was near present Topeka. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "alcovesprings" Flickr tag. On National Register of Historic Places and considered one of the most significant historic sites on the Oregon Trail in Kansas. . The ill-fated Donner Party camped at Alcove Spring from May 26 to May 31 1846, waiting for the Blue River to go down so that they could safely cross at nearby Independence Crossing. Apparently neither Virginia nor Patty revealed the diary to McGlashan. They named the campsite "Alcove Spring" and the men set about building a raft to ferry the wagons across. The rock is in Alcove Spring, outside Marysville, Kansas. The Bryant-Russell Party arrived at Sutter's Fort on September 1, well ahead of the other emigrants. The Santa Fe Trail crossed the Blue River and ascended a steep hill. The Donner party, most of whom later froze or starved in the Sierras, buried its first member, Sarah Keyes, near the Springs in 1846. The Spring was closed to the public due to such vandalism, but was recently re-opened, as reported by Raoul Delmare. Although he makes no note of the camp site, it tremendously impressed John Breen, who wrote of it in his memoirs of 1877: 17 the ’5 night wee Camp on the wapulusa 18 miles from the head of Bull Creek and we Camped on the plains near the a Spring 18 miles from Wapulusa. Alcove Spring Historic Park was also the site of the first recorded death in the Donner Party - 70 year old Sarah H. Keyes, who died from consumption. The rocks that surround the springs create a unique natural element that pools the water below. The Kaw was the name for the Kansas River, as in Kaw Drive which runs along the north bank of the Kansas River in Kansas City, Kansas. King went so far as to suggest that some entries may have been written after Reed arrived in California, which seems unlikely. Donner party, group of American pioneers stranded en route to California in 1846. Alcove Spring Historic Park is on the National Register of Historic Places and considered one of the most significant historic sites on the Oregon Trail in Kansas. The group which made the springs more significant than any other was the Donner party which camped along the Big Blue at that point in May, 1846. Alcove Springs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The Donner Party carved the words Alcove Springs in eight inch letters on a nearby rock that could be read for over a century (recent travelers report that part of the inscription has broken away from the rock face, apparently through natural weathering). ... including the legendary Donner-Reed party. May Left Independence on the 12th went about 4 miles and camped [This is the first entry from Miller’s diary. John C. Fremont and his 1842 exploring expedition bivouacked at the Springs, and Marcus Whitman, with a thousand emigrants to Oregon, stopped there in 1843. (Am I lucky or what?) Sarah Keyes was a member of the Donner Party, emigrating to California in 1846. Situated in around 300 acres there are still around 5 miles of trails not documented but can be found on the maps at the entrance. It was widely circulated that members of the party resorted to cannibalism after their food ran out, giving the party its lasting notoriety. It runs over a high undulating country, exhibiting a great variety of rich scenery. Kit Carson and John C. Fremont, rested at Alcove Springs before continuing their travels west. It was a stop on a route used by travelers on both the Oregon and California trails in the mid-19th century—including the ill-fated 1846 Donner party that later became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range with tragic results. Star of Wednesday, June 11, 1930, in an article, "Death Takes the Last Survivor of the Donner Party," the following appears: "On May 29, Grandmother Keyes died and she was buried under a big oak tree where was later the city cemetery of Manhattan." Meanwhile, back at the Missouri River, the Graves family set out with the last party on the Trail, the Smith Party, as described by William Graves in his 1877 article in the Russian River Flag: 26 and from their traveled a Bowt 10 miles and Camped on the Big Blue and Remained their the 27 and the twenty Eighth and twenty-ninth and thirtyeth [This camp was north of present Blue Rapids, Kansas, south of Marysville which later was a Pony Express stop.]. James Reed’s Initials Carved in Rock at Alcove Spring. 22 and from their wee traveled a Bowt 15 miles and Campe on the warpalore [This camp was on the creek now called the Vermillion, also known as the Little Vermillion, east of Louisville.]. The fact that so many people had taken the time to carve dates and names into the stones was amazing. We were lucky to see Alcove Springs after a period of rain. Recently, bike … The Indian line is the present Kansas-Missouri border, which heads south from the junction of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers. The Trail generally follows the present Highway 24 along the north bank of the Kansas River to Walmego, then north on Highway 99 to Frankfort. marker memorializing Sarah Keyes, a member of the Donner Party who died in 1846. marker memorializing Sarah Keyes, a member of the Donner Party who died in 1846. A member of the Donner-Reed party, Edwin Bryant, coined the name Alcove Spring. In fact, it was one of their party, Edwin Bryant, who named the spring Alcove Spring. The Donner-Reed Party was the first to use Emigration Canyon (to later become the primary route of Mormon pioneers). Bryant describes the day’s journey and camp: 21 and from their we traveled a Bout 5 miles and Camped on prairie Creek. The first member of the Donner Party to die was Sarah Keyes, and she did so while they were camped at Alcove Springs. Here we first met the Donners. John C. Fremont and his 1842 exploring expedition camped at Alcove Spring and Marcus Whitman led a thousand emigrants to Oregon who stopped at the Spring in 1843. The exact location of her burial is unknown. 23 and from their wee traveled 12 miles and Camped on prairie creek, 24 and from their wee traveled a Bout 14 miles and Camped near a Creek on the plains. This installment is #9 in a series tracing the experiences of the Donner Party as it worked its way into American history. The Donners arrive at Independence, Missouri, as recorded by Tamsen Donner, wife of George Donner, in a letter dated May 11 to her sister Eliza Poor: I came here last evening & start tomorrow morning on the long journey. Donner Party - Stone at Alcove Springs, Ks" c1929 photo D1/2/ Donner Party Members -photocopies photo D1/2/ Donner Party -Scenes along Route c 1949, photocopies photo D1/2/ Donner, George photo G3/3 Donner, George Jr. photo G7/4/2075 Donner, George Jr. … A 223-acre park offers a self-guided walking tour and interpretive exhibits. We stopped by Alcove Springs during a Sunday road trip. Reading, Responsibility, and Social Media; JCCC Sustainability ROCKS: Why the F*ck is this Behind a Firewall! In fact, it was one of their party, Edwin Bryant, who named the spring Alcove Spring. One described the Springs as "a beautiful cascade of water . 8, No. Located on the old Oregon-California Trail, this historic site was the stopping place for many wagon trains, including the famed Donner Party. It's a free attraction and one worth seeing! The ill-fated Donner Party camped at Alcove Spring from May 26 to May 31 1846, waiting for the Blue River to go down so that they could safely cross at nearby Independence Crossing. From here, the Trail left the Kansas River and crossed the higher ground between the Kansas River and Soldier Creek. Across the road from the Alcove Springs park is another park commemorating the Oregon Trail and features history, wagon swales and a D.A.R. On July 2, 1846, after trading their wagons and teams for mules, Bryant, Russell, and seven other men set out by themselves to become the first emigrants to take Hastings Cutoff. One of the remaining marks of the passage of the Donner Party is a rock where James Reed carved his initials, and dated 26 May 1846. Miller’s terse notations resume: thirty first day wee Crossed over the Big Blue and Camped. Tamsen Donner, wife of George Donner, wrote from Independence to her sister Eliza Poor: Contemporary accounts place the actual number of wagons as about 250, with about 1,500 people, headed for both California and Oregon. Utah bound Mormons and California bound gold seekers followed, including the Donner Party, most of whom later froze or starved in the Sierras. The early writers on the Donner party often referred to this grave as being near Manhattan, and in the Kansas City (Mo.) Edwin Bryant describes his troubles passing the muddy road eight days before the Donners: The Santa Fe Trail traveled up the Blue River from Independence, following the a portion of present Blue Ridge Road in Kansas City, Missouri. Alcove Spring and Waterfall are located near Independence Crossing, a famous ford where pioneer wagons following the Oregon Trail forded the Big Blue River. The group was named for the expedition’s captain, George Donner. Gewässer in Blue Rapids; Häufig gesucht in Blue Rapids. On July 12, 1846, twelve year old Virginia Reed wrote to her cousin Mary C. Keyes about the events leading up to this day: In her 1891 memoirs, a much older Virginia recounted the events: From Katherine Wakeman Cooper’s article Patty Reed in Overland Monthly, January-June 1917: Virginia was right about the assistance of the other emigrants. RENO, Nev. (AP) — A pair of backcountry endurance athletes who became obsessed with the Donner Party spent the last seven years researching and exploring the Sierra on … Virginia Reed’s father James was said to have carved his initials at Alcove Spring. On this day Bryant commented on the progress of the wagons with surprising prescience: 25 and from their wee traveled a Bout 10 miles and came to the Big Vermilion and Crossed and traveled a Bout 5 miles and Camped on the plaines [This crossing is near present Frankfort on the Black Vermillion as it is now called.]. Alcove Spring in Marshall County is a prime example of the important role springs played in the settlement and early transportation patterns of the United States. Onlyinyourstate.com Welcome to the beautiful and tranquil Alcove Springs Trail out in Alcove Spring, Kansas. Bryant describes the day’s travel: The trail along which we have traveled to-day, has been dry, compact and easy for our teams. [This was near present Big Spring, Kansas. Across the road from the Alcove Springs park is another park commemorating the Oregon Trail and features history, wagon swales and a D.A.R. Aktivitäten in der Nähe von Alcove Springs. The weary pioneers tried to recover from their disastrous trek westward across the Great Salt Lake Desert. 13 next day travelled about 16 miles in the rain, bad roads and rainy night. One hundred and sixty-plus years ago this week, members of the Donner Party rested at Pilot Springs at the foot of Pilot Peak in Nevada near the Utah border. The Donner party named Alcove Springs. Santa Fe Trail Ruts and Monument in Minor Park, Kansas City, photographed 1998, 16 and from thir we Camped on the head of Rull Creek twenty miles from Big Blue. The first mention of the springs was made by travelers of the “Great Migration” in 1843. marker memorializing Sarah Keyes, a member of the Donner Party who died in 1846. The Donner party named Alcove Springs. On June 2, ex-Governor Boggs wrote a letter to the St. Louis Weekly American, which was carried back by a Shawnee Indian. The river has changed course and the site is now in a field. marker memorializing Sarah Keyes, a member of the Donner Party who died in 1846. (See the photo above, left.) At Alcove Springs there is a monument to Sarah Keyes, a member of the Donner party who expired from tuberculosis here in Kansas, long before the party was stranded in the Sierra Nevada. At the camp on Soldier Creek the Donner-Reed party caught up to and joined the Bryant Party, as recounted by Bryant: On May 20, 1846, James Reed wrote a letter to his brother-in-law James Keyes. Utah-bound Mormons and California-bound goldseekers followed, for only a short distance above was Independence Crossing, the famous ford across the Big Blue river. As noted by Miller the Russell party was delayed at the Big Blue. Some of the entries appear to have been written after the events, which led both Stewart and King to question it. Most of the emigrants who later became members of the Donner Party also traveled with this group. I strongly recommend going before the drier part of the year, if possible. On May 19 the party joined a larger wagon train captained by William Russell about 100 miles west of Independence, Missouri. Across the road from the Alcove Springs park is another park commemorating the Oregon Trail and features history, wagon swales and a D.A.R. …. The Donner Party camped at … During my research I’d seen old photos of this carving, but I didn’t expect to find it myself because I’d read the rock had deteriorated since those photos had been taken. The exact location of her burial is unknown. The pioneers named this area Alcove Spring, and many carved their initials in the surrounding rocks. The great Tuttle Creek Reservoir at full pool level extends along the Big Blue from Independence Crossing southward nearly to Manhattan. The discovery and publication of this letter was a tremendous accomplishment by Ms. Johnson, and an example of the potential for future original research on the Donner Party. The Center is operated by the Oregon California Trails Association, and has extensive exhibits about the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails and the early emigrants. The name of the Park comes from the Alcove Spring and Naomi Pike falls both located on the premises and accessible by walking trails. Six miles northwest is Alcove Springs, named in 1846 by appreciative travelers on the Oregon Trail who carved the name on the surrounding rocks and trees. The entrance to the Park is on East River Road, a well maintained gravel road that runs approximately parallel with U. S. Highway 77 … The name was given to the springs by a member of the Donner-Reed Party in 1846, although it was a known place along the trail which fur trappers traversed in the late 1820s and 1830s. According to Hill, the grave is near the old parking lot entrance to Alcove Spring, but is unmarked today. For me, the falls were not worth the visit but the history of the place was definitely interesting. We named this the Alcove Spring; and future travelers will find the name graven on the rocks, and on the trunks of the trees surrounding it. The Russell Company camped on the shores of the Big Blue River which, like the Kansas River, was swollen from the recent rainstorms. The band will play at Alcove Spring Historic Park, a 246-acre largely undeveloped park. Virginia apparently did not use it as a source for her Century Magazine article in 1891. The Donners arrive at Independence, Missouri, as recorded by Tamsen Donner, wife of George Donner, in a letter dated May 11 to her sister Eliza Poor: I came here last evening & start tomorrow morning on the long journey. George McKinstry in his diary entry of May 26 says: In his diary entry for May 27, Bryant describes exploring a stream that flowed into the river: One of the remaining marks of the passage of the Donner Party is a rock where James Reed carved his initials, and dated 26 May 1846. The funeral took place this evening at 2 O’clock which was attended by every member of our Company. The Donner Party (sometimes called the Donner–Reed Party) was a group of American pioneers who migrated to California in a wagon train from the Midwest.Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–1847 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The early writers on the Donner party often referred to this grave as being near Manhattan, and in the Kansas City (Mo.) William H. Russell, captain of the company, wrote to the Independence Western Expositor: Our numbers can not even yet be accurately ascertained, in consequence of the irregular manner in which they come in, but they are numerous, and cannot fall short of one hundred wagons. The Donner party, most of whom later froze or starved in the Sierras, buried its first member, Sarah Keyes, near the Springs in 1846. The name of the Park comes from the Alcove Spring and Naomi Pike falls both located on the premises and accessible by walking trails. Missing and Exploited Women; OER RATIONALE! The party waited for the Big Blue to fall, and took the time to conduct some democracy. Bryant describes the difficulties of travel: This technique would be essential for the Party’s later crossing of the Wasatch and the Sierra. Dec 21, 2014 - jf reed of the donner party carved his name in a rock at alcove springs kansas And then she took a photo of me standing next to Alcove Spring. Bryant described the crossing of the Kansas River: Virginia Reed remembered the crossing in her 1891 memoirs: Grandma Keyes had told Virginia Reed stories about an aunt who had been kidnapped by Indians from the early settlement of Virginia and Kentucky and held captive five years. Alcove Spring (Blue ... a member of the famously doomed Donner-Reed Party. At least four wagons and numerous oxen were lost … I was eventually joined at Alcove Spring by a retired historian from nearby Marysville, Kansas. The Diary is controversial to some historians. Occasionally they would relax and picnic near a calming waterfall at a nearby spring. Pioneers began dumping their belongings to lighten the wagons, and wagon ruts can still be seen crossing the lonely expanse of muddy desolation. Miller probably meant Bull Creek. In the tall grass prairie the Alcove Spring trails preserve the California and Oregon trail stop in much the same condition as it was in 1842 when members of the Donner party named the spring. A member of the party, Edwin Bryant, wrote The great Tuttle Creek Reservoir at full pool level extends along the Big Blue from Independence Crossing southward nearly to Manhattan. She even showed me where the rock had originally been a part of an overhang before breaking off and falling to the bottom of the spring decades ago. While waiting for its waters to recede to a safe level, some pioneers built a raft by carving out canoes to use as pontoons, and then building a platform on top of them. The 70 year-old Keyes, … Following the Donner Party Alcove Spring: May 1846 Once on the other side of the Kansas River, the Donner and Reed families joined up with the much larger Russell Company, which was made up of at least 72 wagons and more than 300 travelers. Virginia was also right about the grave not being disturbed. The existence of the diary was not known until the estate of Martha (Patty) Reed donated it to Sutter’s Fort Historical Museum in 1945. The newspaper reported that: Two deaths had taken place among the California emigrants - one a small child, the child of Judge Morin, and the other a Mrs. Keys, from Springfield, Ill., quite an aged lady and, had been laboring under consumption. And it was the deceptive, searing Salt Flats that sealed the party's doom. Once on the other side of the Kansas River, the Donner and Reed families joined up with the much larger Russell Company, which was made up of at least 72 wagons and more than 300 travelers. Just the same, I looked around for a rock with his initials–and there it was. 20 and from their we Camp on prairie Creek 8 miles from the Same Creek. They also permitted Kristin Johnson to transcribe it and publish it in Reed Joins Russell Train, Newsletter of the Utah Crossroads Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association, Winter 1997 (Vol. The exact location of her burial is unknown. She informed me that the rock bearing James Reed’s initials had been recently restored and cast. it was discovered in 1846 when the Donner party were delayed by high waters on the Blue River. Bryant describes the crossing: We reached the Vermillion about noon. Alcove Springs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The trail to the spring itself is less than 1/4 mile and an easy walk. The several creeks were all flowing well and the cascading waterfall at the spring was absolutely beautiful and rather loud. The spring was named by a member of the Donner Party in 1846. Independence is the site of the National Frontier Trails Center, just north of the Santa Fe Trail Park. Discovered in 1846 when the Donner party were delayed by high waters on the Blue River. The Party followed the well worn Santa Fe Trail.]. The wapulusa is the present Wakarusa, near Lawrence, Kansas. Located on the Oregon Trail, Alcove Springs was a stop for many emigrants, California-bound gold seekers and other travelers who camped there, including the Donner-Reed Party. The following document was found in the Reed papers donated to Sutter’s Fort Museum in 1945: Stanton would, in fact, become a significant protector to the Donner Party. Pony Express Barn & Museum; Marshall County Historical; Blue River Rail Trail; Marysville Sod House; Black Squirrels on Parade; Marysville Public library; 7r's bar and grill; Natur & Parks in Blue Rapids. The Vermillion about noon first member of the Wasatch and the men set building. The Bryant-Russell party arrived at Sutter 's Fort on September 1, well of... Listed on the 12th went about five miles and Camped the Indian is... 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