The Quivira Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association has donated children’s, young adult and adult books to the public libraries in the chapter’s coverage area: McPherson, Rice and Barton counties.

In 1821, the Santa Fe Trail became America’s first great international commercial highway, and for nearly 60 years thereafter was one of the nation’s great routes of adventure and western expansion. Hundreds of traders brought goods and supplies from the east, to Franklin, Mo., and took them to Santa Fe, then in Mexico, which was enveloped into the U.S. in 1848 at the conclusion of the Mexican-American War. 

Quivira Chapter has many activities planned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Trail. Books were selected by Linda Colle, president of Quivira Chapter, and Leo Oliva, historian and well-known authority on the Santa Fe Trail. 

As soon as the books are processed, they will be available at local libraries. Funds for the books purchased for the six libraries in McPherson County were provided by the McPherson County Community Foundation. Funds for books provided to the Rice and Barton County libraries came in part from Rice County Tourism and the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

The Quivira Chapter encourages library patrons to “Read Across the Santa Fe Trail” between March 1 and March 5, and during the remainder of this bicentennial year and beyond.  

For more information about the Santa Fe Trail anniversary activities, go to www.2021santafetrailkansas.com or @200thSantafetrailKansas on Facebook.

Sheri Holmes is the director of library and media services for the Ellinwood School and Community Libraries. She can be reached by email at sholmes@usd355.org.