LOCAL HERITAGE
| Black Dog Trail | Helium Park | Dalton Robbery | ||
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Black Dog Trail |
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The
Black Dog Trail
was
a 200-mile, road-like passage that was cleared by the Black Dog
Band of the Osage Indians under the direction of the
"older" Black Dog.
(there were two). Although the route was traveled in the
1600s, the road-like artery was built in the early 1800s
along the ancient, often used 1600s Osage Indian hunting and mourning route.
Passing through Dexter, it measured at least 30 running
horses wide—even through the waterways.
The entire Trail was cleared of rocks, obstacles and
grasses.
It ran from Baxter Springs, Kansas to near Oxford,
Kansas.
The five routes of the Other Osage Bands joined the route
of the Black Dog Band at various points along the Trail in route
to the hunting and vegetable-gathering camps in South Central
Kansas and North Central Oklahoma.
Those who could not hunt or work were generally left behind
at their Band’s base camp.
Thousands passed this way at least twice yearly bringing
with them many horses and dogs. They would often return with
necessities and trade goods. Through time and wise decisions, the Osage
tribe evolved to be the richest tribe in the United States.
The Black Dog Trail was not only significant to the Osage Indians, but it was important in the change it brought about. It brought together the ancient nomadic people and the European-like system of today's culture with the settlement of one of the last frontiers of America. The Black Dog Trail was an exciting focus as the early United States evolved through the Civil War into the society of today. We who live near this trail are in the part of the Wild, Wild West that has been the object of movies, national literature, tales and legends. Fragments of these stories have been sought after by people all over the world. We are honored to live in one of the most historic, colorful places in the world!
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