The business of OCTA is the historic trails. That's the bottom line, not only for the organization, but for most of us as individuals as well. Most people join OCTA because of an interest in the trails. Maybe it's because we had a forebearer or two who actually traveled the emigrant routes across the plains.

Regardless, our interest now gives us a tangible link to the pioneering spirit that drove our forefathers westward. Maybe it's just a personal fascination with the history of the trails, with the lore and even the romance of the westward movement. We like the idea of our footprints in the same dirt trod by the pioneers 150 years ago.

OCTA members share a common bond in our love of the trails and our desire to see the historic trails preserved for future generations. That's why we take every opportunity to revisit the ruts and bring new people to the sites. The 2000 Convention will feature five all-day tours to the sites, with each one showing a unique and interesting look at our city's history.

The tours are all-day events, lasting 8-10 hours, and will feature trained tour guides and an original tour book. Each book will contain biographies of famous western people who had a connection to Kansas City, maps, diary quotes and information on specific historical subjects relating to the trails' stories.

All tours depart from and return to the Adam's Mark Hotel, 9103 E. 39th St., Kansas City, MO, (816) 737-0200 (see map)

Independence Route - August 10 and 12
Westport Route - August 10 and 12
River Landings Tour - August 7 and 10
Fort Leavenworth Tour - August 8 and 12
California Road (Westport - Lawrence) - August 7 and 8

Independence Route

The Independence Route, along with the Westport Route, was one of the two principal routes of the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails. Preceded by the Blue Springs Route of the Santa Fe Trail in the 1820s, this route originated after Independence was founded in 1827. This tour will follow the route as it evolved by the mid-1840s.

Sites we will see include:
• Upper Independence (Wayne City) Landing
• Truman Library and Home sites
• Walking tour of Historic Independence Square
• Swales near National Frontier Trails Center
• Swales near Santa Fe Park
• Rice-Tremonti House (1844)
• 85th and Manchester swale
• Schumacher Park
• Hart Grove Campground site
• Big Blue River Crossing
• Swale and exhibits at Minor Park
• New Santa Fe Cemetery and swale
• True House
• State Line Crossing
• Lone Elm Campground
• Junction with Westport Route
• Santa Fe and Oregon-California Trail split

Westport Route

The Westport Route, along with the Independence Route, is one of the two principal routes of the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails in the Kansas City area. The establishment of John McCoy's Westport trading post in 1833 led to this trail's development, and eventually enabled Westport and Westport Landing to rival Independence for the overland freighting and emigrant outfitting business. Two alternates (North and South) of this Route existed. We will follow the North Route until they merge.

Sites we will see include:
• Westport (Kansas) Landing
• Original Town of Kansas (Kansas City) location
• Lewis and Clark Point overlook
• Trail through downtown Kansas City
• Intercept of Chouteau's Fur Road
• Penn Valley Markers
• Walking Tour of Westport
• State Line Crossing
• Shawnee Methodist Mission Site (Lunch Stop)
• Shawnee Baptist Mission Site
• Shawnee Quaker Mission Site
• Harmon Park certified swale on the South Route
• Junction of the California Road
• Sapling Grove
• Junction of the North and South Routes
• Intercepts of the MIlitary Road
• Flat Rock Creek Crossing / Park and Indian Creek Campgrounds
• Olathe Courthouse Trail Markers
• Elm Grove Campground
• Gardner Trail Markers
• Junction with the Independence Route
• Santa Fe and Oregon-California Trail Split
• Lone Elm Campground

River Landings Tour

This tour will locate all the principal Missouri River Landings used throughout the trail period and also trace the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery sites of 1804.

Sites we will see include:
• Travel by Independence Historic Sites
• Fort Osage
• Lower Independence (Blue Mills) Landing site
• Upper Independence (Wayne City) Landing site
• Liberty Landing
• First and Second Chouteau Warehouse sites
• Westport (Kansas) Landing
• River Market area (Lunch Stop)
• Lewis and Clark Point overlook
• Kaw Pont and various Lewis and Clark sites
• Parkville Landing
• Weston Bend State Park
• Weston Landing
• Lewis and Clark Park
• Atchison Landing
• St. Joseph Landing and Ferry site
• Pony Express Museum

Fort Leavenworth Tour

This tour will trace the trail up to and beyond Fort Leavenworth, part of which had been the earlier Fort Leavenworth to Fort Scott Military Road. We will see sites at magnificent Fort Leavenworth, one of the premier sites of the westward movement. It dates from 1827 and remains the oldest continuously used fort west of the Mississippi River.

Sites we will see include:
• 1857 Grinter House and Kansas River Ferry site
• Fort to Fort Military Road route and signage
• New Leavenworth Landing and UPRR Park and Visitor Center
• Downtown Leavenworth sites
• Buffalo Soldier Monument (Lunch Stop)
• Refurbished Fort Museum
• New Lewis and Clark markers
• New Fort Historic Interpretive Exhibits
• Swale up from the Missouri River
• Russell, Majors and Waddell freighting sites
• Fort Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary site
• Buffalo Bill Cody boyhood home site in Salt Creek Valley
• Border War sites
• Fort DeCavignal site
• Eight-mile House
• Ten miles of the Fort Leavenworth
• Fork of the Fort Leavenworth branch of the Oregon-California Trails to Fort Riley and to the Big Blue River

California Road (Westport - Lawrence)

The Westport-Lawrence Road was traveled by people such as John Fremont who were heading to California. Although it was shorter than the Independence or Westport Routes, it was somewhat more difficult. Emigrant traffic started on the Westport-Lawrence Road in 1849 and continued in popularity for years. After 1854, it became a heavily used road from Westport to Lawrence in the Kansas Territorial period.

Sites we will see include:
• Westport (drive through)
• State Line Crossing
• Shawnee Methodist Mission
• Shawnee Baptist Mission site
• Department point from the Westport Route
• Shawnee Quaker Mission site
• Turkey Creek Crossing
• Gum Springs
• Intercept with the Military Road
• Shawnee Indian Council House and Cemetery site
• Mill Creek Crossing and Shawnee Mill sites
• Monticello, KS, and Bill Hickock homestead
• Eudora, KS, and Fish Hotel site
• Blue Mound
• Lower (Bluejacket) Crossings and swale - Wakarusa River
• Upper (Blanton's Bridge) Crossing - Wakarusa River
• Trail up over Mt. Oread on Kansas Univeristy campus