Council Grove

In 1825, growing traffic over the Santa Fe Trail brought a government survey and right-of-way treaties with certain Indians, and Council Grove took its name from an agreement made there that year with the Osage Nation. Indians farther west continued attacks on weak or unwary caravans, so a large grove on the river became the rendezvous where wagon trains banded together for safe travel and made repairs from the last available timber. Fremont's expedition of 1845 and Doniphan's troops bound for the Mexican War in 1846 camped there. In 1849, the overland mail was established with supply headquarters there, followed the next year by monthly coach service. Travel to Santa Fe through Council Grove ended in 1866 when the Union Pacific reached Junction City. The area became a Kaw Indian reservation in 1846, and with the Indians came the first white settler, who built a trading post. A building erected there in 1850 by the Methodist Church as a mission and school is now a state-owned museum. In 1872, the Indians signed a treaty for removal to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. There are several places of historical interest in and near the town.

Council Grove, Kansas · United States