Attraction
Mormon Springs Monument
The Mormon Springs Monument in Washington County, Kansas, commemorates a vital stopping point for pioneers traveling the southern route of the Mormon Trail and the Fort Riley-Fort Kearney Military Road.
Historical Significance
- Favorite Campsite: In 1845 and throughout the mid-1850s, Latter-day Saint emigrants used this site as a primary camping ground on their journey to Utah.
- The South Fork: This location sat on the “South Fork” of the Mormon Trail, which branched off the Santa Fe Trail at 110 Mile Creek in Osage County before heading north to join the main Oregon Trail in Nebraska.
- Pioneer Graffiti: Travelers famously carved their names and dates of passage into a high red sandstone bluff on Ash Creek. While most of these inscriptions were lost to erosion and vandalism by the 1930s, carving of a wagon wheel was still visible at that time.
Location and Access
- Monument Location: The historical marker and information signs are located roughly three miles south of the city of Washington.
- The Springs: The actual springs are situated approximately half a mile west of the marker at the base of a sandstone bluff on Ash Creek.
- Private Property: While the historical marker is accessible to the public, the actual springs remain on private property and are not open for public visitation.
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