Autograph Rock Santa Fe Trail Oklahoma Collage

by Debra Martz

Title

Autograph Rock Santa Fe Trail Oklahoma Collage

Artist

Debra Martz

Medium

Photograph - Collage - Photography

Description

Autograph Rock Santa Fe Trail Oklahoma Collage
Autograph Rock, northwest of Boise City, Oklahoma, is a well-documented feature of the famed Cimarron Cutoff of the Santa Fe Trail, which transects Cimarron County. On the rock face are more than three hundred signatures of people who passed it on the Santa Fe Trail between 1822 and the 1880s.
F.B. Delgado, a member of a prominent Santa Fe family, carved his name more than any other during his travels on the trail. I found three different ones.
Kit Carson’s name has not been found, but he built a fort near the rock to protect wagon trains that passed there. Concerned about their safety in a land inhabited by American Indians, Carson waited until 500 wagons arrived before letting them continue. While they waited, many carved their names into the 700 foot long, 25 foot tall rock cliff.
The rock wall is located on private property and permission is needed in advance to visit the site. We had spent the afternoon at the museum in town which is where we were granted permission and driving instructions to the ranch.

©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved

In My Gallery/Collection: Oklahoma

20220928-AutographWall-2a.jpg

Uploaded

January 5th, 2023

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