Santa Fe Trail commerce and migration (1821–1880)

1. Mexican independence opens New Mexico to U.S. trade

   Sep 27, 1821Labels: Mexican Independence, New Mexico

   • NPS Article

2. William Becknell arrives in Santa Fe

   Nov 16, 1821Labels: William Becknell, Santa Fe

   • NPS Timeline
   • HISTORY

3. Cimarron Cutoff becomes a major trail option

   Jan 1, 1822Labels: Cimarron Route, Mountain Route

   • NPS Timeline

4. Independence, Missouri becomes a major outfitting point

   Mar 1, 1827Labels: Independence Missouri

   • NPS Timeline

5. Santa Fe Trail commerce expands into northern Mexico

   Jan 1, 1830Labels: Northern Mexico, Santa Fe

   • SFTA History
   • NPS Article

6. Bent’s Fort built as a key trading hub

   Jan 1, 1833Labels: Bent's Fort, Arkansas River

   • NPS Bent s
   • Wikipedia

7. U.S. Army uses the trail in the Mexican–American War

   Jun 30, 1846Labels: U S, Mexican American

   • NPS Fort Union
   • Wikipedia

8. Kearny occupies Santa Fe without major fighting

   Aug 15, 1846Labels: Stephen Kearny, Santa Fe

   • Wikipedia
   • NPS Fort Union

9. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo redraws the border

   Feb 2, 1848Labels: Treaty of, U S

   • National Archives
   • Britannica

10. Fort Union established to supply and protect the route

    Jul 16, 1851Labels: Fort Union, Santa Fe

    • NPS Handbook
    • NPS Fort Union

11. Fort Larned begins guarding central trail traffic

    Oct 22, 1859Labels: Fort Larned, Pawnee Fork

    • NPS Fort Larned
    • NPS Forts

12. Fort Union supports heavy Civil War–era freighting

    Jan 1, 1861Labels: Fort Union, Civil War

    • NPS Fort Union

13. Railroads shorten the trail’s commercial dominance

    Jan 1, 1866Labels: Railroads, Post-Civil War

    • NPS Article

14. Rail connection reaches Santa Fe, ending the trail era

    Jan 1, 1880Labels: Rail connection, Santa Fe

    • NPS Article
    • Wikipedia