Why this page on these old oval markers? The history of the Santa Fe Trail means Markers, Pawnee Rock, Point of Rocks and Wagon Mound, these were all markers. The Oval Signs was just one of the ways the Santa Fe Trail was marked over the years. The "Old Santa Fe Road" and other feeder trails that connect with the Santa Fe Trail were marked in many ways. A lot of research goes into each site and then great effort goes into locating them, then placeing a unique type of marker at each location. Take the limestone posts the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter incorporated into its marking project. These posts are also a part of the history of the State of Kansas. With the reconstruction of the highway system in the Western part of Kansas, from the almost one lane highways built for the covered wagon & the Old Model "A Ford" to the new super two lane as the state calls them, the fence rows that once held the limestone post are being replaced by new and improved fences and the limestone posts are being taken out and lost. Many of the post end up as markers of a different kind and are being used everywhere.

     The Oval Santa Fe Trail Markers were placed on or near schools located along the Santa Fe Trail in 1948, by the American Pioneer Trails Association with Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. At that time Judge Henry A. Bundschu was president of the Association, and Thornton Cooke was chairman of the special committee that designed this plan for marking the historic Santa Fe Trail. Blevins Davis, Independence, Missouri, donated funds to provide the artistic plaques for marking the route. Irvin "Shorty" Shope, who drew the mules pulling the wagon on the sign, was a western painter, illustrator and muralist from Montana.

     The Association provided a plaque for every school along the Santa Fe Trail and suggested a dedication program for November 16, 1948. Students were to conduct the ceremony and give the addresses. They were encouraged to dress in pioneer costumes for the occasion. This was one effort to mark the Trail since the DAR granite markers were erected earlier in the century. The markers were placed on or near schools, but only a few remain where originally placed.

1. Allen, Kansas;
   
        This one is displayed in the Lyon County Senior Center in the town of Allen, this sign was removed from the "Ozark School" located three miles west of Allen, Kansas on US 56 and one mile north by Roy Schiesser and Dan Fagan as the old school was being torn down.

2. Ashland Oregon;
        [Email recieved 8/5/01] - I bought one of these at an auction in Ottawa Kansas, in 1991. It is very near mint. I am a collector of Santa Fe railroad items, with a little crossover into the bus, and "trail" items. Thought you may want to account for it.
   Regards,
   S. Spalding
   Ashland, Oregon

3. Baldwin City, Kansas;
        This one was located inside the west door of the log cabin at Black Jack Park east of Baldwin City, it was originally on a tree near St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. The oval sign has been moved again to the Old Castle Museum in Baldwin City.

4. Canon City, Colorado;
   
        Hello, We would like to let you know about the oval marker sign we have aquired. The sign was aquired in Canon City, Colorado and was stated to be from an antiques store in Sugar City, Colorado. The store closed 12 years ago and the sign was in storage since then. No information of the actual location of where the sign was from, but La Junta and Las Animas is very near there. It has a few small porcelain chips on the the edges and center, but displays very well. It is now owned by us at Trails End Antiques, Canon City, Colorado, we have been in business for 18 years. We would love for this sign to be added to the "known" list of other oval signs and sorry there is no other information on the original location. Keep up the good work!
   Regards

5. Carpinteria, California;
   
        We purchased the sign in April 2008, at an antique gas and oil sale. We were told that it came off an Indian school in New Mexico, no other information then that. It's great to be a part of the Santa Fe Trail collectors.
   Ray & Mary, Carpinteria, California

6. Cedar Crest, New Mexico;
   
        In November 2004 this sign was put in an auction house in Kansas and sold to someone in Cedar Crest, New Mexico. The auction house would give no information on the new owner.
        This sign was first bought at a garage sale in Pawnee Rock, Kansas by an antique dealer in Pawnee Rock. He put it in his shop and then it was sold to a gentleman from Gem, Kansas who sells items over the internet. He then sold it to Ed Dowell, Ulysses, Kansas on November 17, 2002. Where the sign once hung is unknown. It is believed to be the one that was on the school in Pawnee Rock, Kansas but we can't be positive on that. - [Pawnee Rock Oval Sign Story]

7. Colorado Springs, Colorado
   
   Email from Rick
   Larry & Carolyn
        This is to inform you that I have one of the oval signs. For now, I intend to frame the marker and include the history of it. I will keep it at my residence for now. I know I paid a fortune for this thing. . . .but I always wanted one, being a Santa Fe Trail nut for many years. The seller advised me that an old gentleman from whom it was purchased lived near McPherson, Kansas. He claimed to have discovered it buried in a county road ditch shortly after buying a small farm stead in 1975.
   Rick in Colorado Springs

8. Council Grove;
      
        There is one located at the Hays House, Charlie and Helen of the Hays House say this one was purchased at the Jameson's Antique Shop in Madison, Kansas about 1974. The sign on the right is made out of leather, also at the Hays House.

9. Council Grove;
        Santa Fe School, this school has been moved from its original location to the Day's farm east of town, where it was been made into a workshop. The oval sign has been set inside the farm house. The school name was Santa Fe Trail School and was located on the Trail six miles east of Council Grove on US 56 and 1/4 mile north.

10. Council Grove;
         A private individual in Council Grove, Kansas owns one.

    Deming, New Mexico;
    
         Rosie from Phoenix writes; My father lives on the out skirts of Deming, New Mexico. Behind there home is open range and mountains. During one of his walks he came across one of those Santa Fe Trail oval signs. This sign was sold to the [Santa Fe Trail Research Site!]

11. Dodge City, Kansas;
         A sign was sold by a Pete Carmichael at public auction, the origin of this sign is unknown and no information on the purchaser could be given.

12. Dodge City, Kansas;
         This sign was taken off of a building that had been moved into the Hollywood addition of Dodge City. The man that has the Oval Sign now is Vernon Nau, of Naus Auction Service, in Dodge City. The School that it came from was in Bucklin, Kansas.

13. E-bay Auction;
         In July of 1998 there was one on this internet auction site. Unsure if this sign sold or not. The owner now is unknown.

14. Elkhart, Kansas;
         
         The Morton County Museum got one in April of 1999, from someone who found it in the junk and ask if they would like to have it. They now have it at the Museum. The museum states: that the photos were sent to us by N. F. Meyer of Colorado, who found it. He felt it was probably on the trail northeast of there. He did find the sign around Trinidad, Colorado. Ed Dowell of Ulysses, Kansas tells us that it is not in to good of shape. He thinks that it may have been buried and then hit with a plow or something.

15. Fort Dodge, Kansas;
    
         In the old warehouse now Museum on the grounds of Old Fort Dodge one of the oval sign hangs on the wall. The origin of this sign is unknown.

16. Fort Worth, Texas;
    
    Email From Steve - 1/31/2010
         I have one that looks like the rest with one huge difference. The 4 holes are top bottom left and right. Same Shope logo and date. I got the sign in Kansas City, Missouri around 1975-76. With the hole pattern being so different must have been made to bolt to not a flat surface.
    Thank you
    Steve in Ft. Worth, Texas

17. Independence Missouri;
    
         This marker is still in its original place which is above the 1940 Cornerstone on which used to be the Palmer Junior High School. It is the last school in Independence, Missouri to still have the Santa Fe Trail marker hanging. - [Story to go with this Oval Sign]

18. Indio, California;
    
    Hi Guys,
    What a great site & links.
         I bought one from a collector in Nevada. I love it. I am a highway sign collector in Indio California.
    Thanks
    Bruce

19. Kansas City, Kansas;
         There is one on a tree at Shawnee Mission, in Kansas City.

20. La Junta, Colorado;
         Phil Petersen has one in his collections from the Kreybill (Gagby) School, which was located approximately eight miles east of Las Animas, Colorado. Most of the school has been torn down except for one room which is now at the Las Animas Museum.

21. La Junta, Colorado;
         This sign was donated by Lee Reed to the Otero Museum in La Junta, the sign is now on display at the Museum. This sign was from the long defunct Timpas School. The sign was found in a trash pile and hung in a garage for several years.

22. Lakin, Kansas;
    
         The narrative with this marker reads as follows: On November 16, 1948 school children in about 240 schools in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico dedicated Santa Fe Trail Markers on schoolgrounds nearest the old trail. This was a project of the Greater Kansas City Council of the American Pioneer Trails Association. The Markers, a gift of Blevins Davis of Independence, Missouri show a covered wagon being drawn by 6 mules, with a man riding one mule. The artist was Irvin Shope. Distribution was made by Col. E.P.H Gempel United States Army retired and Clyde H. Porter of Kansas City, Missouri. The marker here was hanging on the flagpole of the Lakin High School. It was donated to the Kearny County Museum in 1989. It is one of 16 markers that have been found as of November 1989.
    Narrative & Photo from Rick P.

23. Lakin, Kansas;
    
         Kearny County Museum.

    Lampasas, Texas;
    
    Email from Alan:
    Larry,
         The sign was found at an antique market here in Lampasas, Texas. We have a lot of military people living here [Fort Hood is nearby] so no telling how the sign ended up here.
    Thanks Alan
    Sold on Ebay to the [Santa Fe Trail Research Site!]

24. Larned, Kansas
    
         Santa Fe Trail Center Museum, this one hangs in the old School on the Museum Grounds

25. Lyons, Kansas;
    
         The Coronado/Quivira Museum has a sign on display.

26. Las Animas, Colorado;
         Kit Carson Museum, this location has a sign in the main building; Original location unknown!

27. Las Animas, Colorado;
         This one is located in the old schoolhouse at the Kit Carson Museum; Original location unknown!

28. Las Animas, Colorado;
         
         Jon writes, I have an oval sign and I think it was originally located on the Rixey school east of Las Animas Co. The person I got it from was pretty sure that is where it was located. I will never sell it. It is in excellent condition and it is well taken care of.

29. Las Vegas, New Mexico;
    
    Larry and Carolyn,
    Hello.
         Yes, we have an oval, commemorative Santa Fe Trail sign. It is white and black on metal, designed by Irvin Shope, 1948. It came to our Museum with the Tom McGrath (a local collector) Collection. That is all the information we have on this particular sign. Currently, it is on display as part of our Santa Fe Trail exhibit. I will get it photographed and send you an image within the next couple of weeks.
    Sincerely yours,
    Pat Romero
    Museum Assistant
    Las Vegas City Museum & Rough Riders Memorial Collection

30. Olathe, Kansas;
         Has a sign at the Mahaffie House.

31. Olathe, Kansas;
         This one is on a post on Santa Fe Road, old US 56 northeast of Olathe.

32. Olathe, Kansas;
         This oval marker is on the School of the Deaf building in Olathe.

33. Offerle, Kansas;
         Linda Burkhart's family has one in their family collections.

    Pomona, California;
    
         This sign came up for sale on E-bay and was sold to Wes [note] in Canada. {This sign looks to be the same one that we have listed in Santa Barbara, California.} [note]

34. Palm Desert, California;
    
         Hi . . . . I saw the oval sign listed on E-bay, and linked to your site, there. I bought one of these about Sept. 2002 on E-bay from a lady in Albuqurque, New Mexico. She's had it in her pantry for over 20 years. She bought it at an estate sale in Albuquerque, around that time. She did not know where it originally came from. Mine has a light coat of rust under the porcelain, and several chips, but I love it!! Thought you would like to know.
    Walter
    Palm Desert, California.

    Pawnee Rock, Kansas;
    
         Gary from Pawnee Rock, Kansas writes: bought this Santa Fe Trail sign 7-7-7 at an estate sale in Ellinwood, Kansas. Gary had worked on this persons house about 15 years ago when he showed him the sign. He lived where the Santa Fe Trail went through Ellinwood. William and a friend were out walking one day and saw something sticking out to the ground. With a little digging they uncovered the Oval Santa Fe Trail Sign. It was by a pole it used to hang on in Ellinwood. The sign measures 24 x 15 inches, which almost stretches across a Pawnee Rock sidewalk. He said the porcelain sign is in almost mint condition.
         This sign was placed on E-bay and [Sold!] Robert of Santa Fe, New Mexico; bought this sign off of E-bay.
    Gary

35. Salina, Kansas;
         A gentleman by the name of Doug, in Salina owns two Santa Fe Trail Oval signs. Where they came from is unknown.

36. San Antonio, Texas;
    
         A gentleman by the name of Kris, in San Antonio owns one of these Santa Fe Trail Oval signs. Kris said in an email that: It is in absolute mint condition! It was cool to see all of those on your sight. I'm from Great Bend, Kansas. Kris states that his sign came from Washington School in Great Bend, Kansas. His dad, Norman, was the maintenance man there during the late 70's. Part of the school was torn down, and some new built. Dad found it in some stuff that would've been thrown away and saved it.

37. Santa Barbara, California;
    
         David writes: Hello, Just purchased from a private collection in Santa Barbara, California an oval porcelain Santa Fe Trail sign signed by the artist Irvin Shope. Super shape with just a little porcelain loss around the top grommet holes. It now resides in my collection of Western Americana.

38. Santa Fe, New Mexico;
         This one is located at the home of Richard on Old Santa Fe Trail, in Santa Fe, "it was purchased for my wife and me as a gift by my sister-in-law in Chicago, Illinois several years ago, Original location unknown!

39. Santa Fe, New Mexico;
    
         Robert bought this sign off of E-bay from a seller in Pawnee Rock, Kansas. A couple of gentlemen were out walking one day and saw something sticking out to the ground. With a little digging they uncovered this Oval Santa Fe Trail Sign. It was by a pole it used to hang on in Ellinwood, Kansas.
    Email from Robert - Monday, February 22, 2010
         This sign originally from Ellinwood, Kansas is part of a collection located on property with an archaeological easement which protects the original alignment of the Santa Fe Trail on the east side of Santa Fe, New Mexico - the End of the Trail.

40. Shawnee, Kansas;
    
         Johnson County Museum System has one that was originally located at the Lanesfield School in Edgerton, Kansas.
         The sign itself is no longer posted on a tree in front of Lanesfield school. As you can see from the photograph, it has some corrosion from normal outdoor exposure. To preserve it for future generations, it is now located within the Visitor's Center for our Lanesfield School Historic Site. Thank you for your interest in our collection at the Johnson County Museums!
    Photo Courtesy of the Johnson County Museum

41. Stonewall, Colorado;
    
         Robert wites: I am the owner of The Wall of Legends Guest Ranch in Stonewall, Colorado. When my wife Gaylene and I purchased the ranch this sign was on the outside wall of a workshop. It is now displayed in my mothers restaurant which is called The Legends Cafe. I was told that one of our cabins (which was built in 1900) was one of the first preschools in Southern Colorado. This is how I think it ended up here. Thank you for all your hard work and we look forward to being on your website.

42. St. John, Kansas by way of Hopatoong, New Jersey;
    
         A lady named "Sue" believes this Oval Sign was found in the basement of a house bought about 20 years ago. It remained there until about five years ago, when the house was sold, and during the clean out of the house the owner was going to throw it away. Another friend kept the thing in a junk pile in her garage for about another year, and she to threatened to throw it away. The sign has been hanging in the kitchen of a lady named "Sue" ever since. Sue states that she loves it, because of the character it has. The sign is in good shape except for ten marks that appear to be from bullets, none of them go through the sign. Sue explained that Hopatoong was a "large summer resort in the early nineteen hundreds through the mid fifties. Many rich and famous people owned houses and vacationed here druing the summer months. It is located on the largest lake in New Jersey about 30 miles west of New York. Enjoy your sign "Sue"!!
         The Oval Santa Fe Trail Sign from Hopatoong, New Jersey was later put up for bid and is now near the Santa Fe Trail.
    [This sign is in the private collection of the Santa Fe Trail Research Site!]

43. St. John, Kansas by way of Deming, New Mexico;
    
    Email Recieved:
    Oval Santa Fe Trail Sign
    July 21, 2008
    Mr, Mix:
         I wrote you a couple years ago and informed you that my dad found one of these signs near Deming New Mexico. They are very elderly and would like to sell this sign, and they could sure use the funds. I thought you might know of somebody who appericates this and would be interested in buying it.
    Rosie
    [This sign is in the private collection of the Santa Fe Trail Research Site!]

44. St. John, Kansas by way of Lampsas, Texas;
    
    Email Recieved:
    Oval Santa Fe Trail Sign
    May 13, 2010
    Larry,
         The sign was found at an antique market here in Lampasas, Texas. We have a lot of military people living here [Fort Hood is nearby] so no telling how the sign ended up here. Thanks
    Alan
    [This sign is in the private collection of the Santa Fe Trail Research Site!]

45. Syracuse, Kansas;
         The Hamilton County Historical Society has one in there Museum, they have been at that location since the early 1970's, original location is unknown.

46. Trinidad, Colorado;
    
         This Oval Santa Fe Trail sign hangs above the door of a Museum.

47. Ulysses, Kansas; Sign Number One;
         There are four in the private collection of Edward Dowell of the Wagon Bed Springs Chapter. Edward's sign buying history goes like this.
    
         Ed bought his first sign from an antique dealer in 1995. He said it came from a private museum in New Mexico. The couple was retiring and selling everything they had collected over the years.

48. Ulysses, Kansas; Sign Number Two;
    
         Ed bought this one from a private party in Westport, Missouri. The people he bought it from didn't know where it came from.

49. Ulysses, Kansas; Sign Number Three;
    
         Ed bought this one from a private party in La Junta, Colorado. They said it came off of a school around La Junta, Colorado but didn't know which one.
    La Junta, Colorado;
         Email from a Bruce Kuhns. My mother, Alma, lives in La Junta, Colorado and I am currently here visiting from Virginia. Last October my father passed away and we are going through the house now getting ready to move my mom out. We found one of the oval Santa Fe Trail signs that my dad had collected. We had Don Lowman, museum curator for the Otero Museum here in town, over to look at it and he filled us in on what he knows about them. I found your website and enjoyed reading about the history of the signs. It is in very good shape with just a little rust around one of the screw holes. Don thinks it probably came from the Lincoln Elementary School here in La Junta. {sold to Ed}

50. Ulysses, Kansas; Sign Number Four;
    
         On January 31, 2006, this sign was put up for bid on E-bay. Michele the seller writes, Hello: I listed this item for a friend of mine. He told me that it came from Lecompton, Kansas. It was found in the basement of an old building. Hope that helps! Location of the school is unknown.
         Ed won the bid for this sign, it is now in his collection in Kansas on the Santa Fe Trail.

51. Ute Park, New Mexico;
         Cimarroncita Ranch, this oval sign is hanging inside one of the ranch buildings and is in good shape. It seems to have had no school connection, but rather a gift.

52. Watrous, New Mexico;
         Brian King, Doolittle Ranch reports that one of the signs is at the ranch, Original location unknown!

53. Wilsey, Kansas;
        
    
         Wilsey School, still bears its sign. Loren Otis was a student there in 1948 and attended the dedication of the marker. The building is currently used as a grade school.
    Rick writes, June 08, 2005:
         I was out in Kansas the last few days and stopped at a few sites. The ceramic Santa Fe Trail sign at the Wilsey school is no longer there. Fortunately someone moved it before it could be stolen. The frame looked like it was ready to fall apart. There is a note in the frame, mounted to the right of the entrance, which says,
         "This sign has been moved to a more secure location"
    Steve writes, July 05, 2005:
         The Wilsey Ks. sign was moved inside the building and placed in the main trophy case in the front hall of the building about 20 feet from it's original location on the outside of the building. The building is now owned by the Calvary Lutheran Chapel. Hope this helps.
    USD 417
    Janene writes on December 03, 2005
         The Santa Fe Trail marker in Wilsey, KS, is inside the case of the old elementary building that has been purchased by Calvary Chapel Bible School. The marker is available for public viewing. My father, the Pastor, is committed to the preservation of the history of Wilsey, KS. Thank you for your website and all the investigative work you've done.
    Janene

54. Woodstock Ontario, Canada;
    
         Thanks to you guys I bought the one on Ebay, it is porcelain, it has a couple of chips nothing serious though. I asked the seller for some history on it, I would like to register it with you for the website for interested people to see. I bought it from a dealer in Pomona, California.
    I'm happy to have a piece of early USA history. . . .and I love early porcelain signs and tin ones too. . . .but I do want original only.
    Thanks for helping me aquire this piece.
    Wes