Picturing History: Pawnee Rock

For most of its journey through what is now the state of Kansas, the Mormon Battalion followed the historic Santa Fe Trail.

One of the better known land features on that trail was Pawnee Rock in Barton County, Kan. The Battalion likely passed by and sighted the rock on Sept. 7, 1846.

This rock mound would have been higher then than it is now because much of it was later taken for use by the railroad.

Interpretive signs nearby give insight into the landmark's history as related to the Santa Fe Trail. Few, if any, Mormon Battalion sources make note of it.

However, the site was so well-known and easy to see from the trail that, in all likelihood, battalion members saw it as they marched by.