Celebrate the 50thAnniversary
of the National Trails Act
October 5th, 6th & 7th
Click on the links below for more information.
Bright Days & Starry Nights Along the Santa Fe Trail Pamphlet
Registration Form
Approximately 33 miles of the Cimarron Route, also known as the Cimarron Cut-Off Route or Dry Route, of the Santa Fe Trail crosses Morton County, and is the largest number of Miles located in any one county in all of the 5 States that the Trail goes through.
The Morton County Section of the Trail is Located on the Cimarron National Grasslands and is watched over and cared for by the USDA Forest Service. Unlike other sections of the trail, it is open to the public for their enjoyment. Hunters, fishermen, campers, hikers, wild flower enthusiasts, bird watchers and history buffs are everyday visitors on the Grasslands.
Following the MCHS Museum's certification, the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service and the Morton County Historical Society formed a partnership and used the museum as a pilot program for the research and building of the six Santa Fe Trail modulars. The first three depict the general history of the area. In addition to the modulars, the exhibit consists of two display cases containing original artifacts found on the Trail and a large freight wagon set in a prairie scene. The scene was built by the local Forest Service staff, and contains prairie grasses and cactus plants, a prairie dog, rattlesnake and two ground squirrels.
... Dr. Marc Simmons, Author & Historian
In 1996, the MCHS Museum was designated as an Official Interpretive Facility for the Santa Fe Historical Trail by the National Parks Service.
Pioneers who came west to Morton County, the "Cornerstone of Kansas", searching for free land struggled against the extremes of "Mother Nature" ... Freezing blizzards, instant dust storms, flash flood, grasshopper invasion, drought and prairie fires. They literally "carved" homes out of the land, only to have their dreams destroyed by the elements ... but, still they stayed, and survived!
They lived in dugouts and sod houses (lumber was scarce on the "treeless" plains) and purchased their needs on credit, later paid off by the fruits of their endeavors, the sale of cattle or at the time of harvest.
Glenn ran on the 1932 and 1936 U.S. Olympic teams winning a silver medal in 1936 in the 1500 meters. In 1938 he set the indoor mile world record with a time of 4.04.4 and was given credit for making the mile the glamour event in indoor track and was selected as the outstanding track performer in the 100 year history of Madison Square Garden.
