Climb aboard as we visit Council Grove, Kan. for the day! Thursday, April 30, we’ll learn about an authentic old trail town at the crossroads of the Santa Fe Trail. We’ll tour the Kaw Mission Historic Site, Santa Fe Trail sites and browse through Last Chance Store.

The Kaw Mission Historic Site is one of the seventeen historic properties administered by the Historic Sites Division of the Kansas Historical Society. The interior of the Kaw Mission contains exhibits telling the story of the Kaw Indians, Santa Fe Trail and early Council Grove. The exhibit discovers the culture of the Kaw (Kanza) Native American tribe, for which the State of Kansas is named after.

In the nineteen century, the Santa Fe Trail was the route used for transportation through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial highway until introduction of the railroad began in 1880. A landmark of trail history, the Santa Fe Trail became a trail of commerce and one of the richest trade routes of our nation.

The bus will depart from the Village Entrance for Council Grove at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30. The group will go on a tour of the Kaw Mission Historical Site upon arriving to Council Grove, then drive by the stores Last Chance and Custer Elm following lunch at Hays House Restaurant. After lunch, we’ll tour the Santa Fe Trail River Crossing, Guardian of the Groves, Madonna of the Trail, Council Oak and the Post Office Art. The group plans to return to Meadowlark Hills around 1:45 p.m.

Please sign up in the Blue Book at the Hospitality Desk if you would like to come along. The cost for the trip is $13, and includes tours and transportation. Lunch will be paid on your own. Please contact Monte Spiller, Resident Services Leader, at (785) 323-3801 with any questions.