America's first Interstate America's first Interstate. . . .The Santa Fe Trail went through what is now Cimarron County, Oklahoma, and we have the tracks to prove it.

The Santa Fe Trail, which is about 775 miles in length and is thought to be the oldest and longest-used pathway across the southern plains , traverses from southwest to northeast through Cimarron County for about 70 miles. Plains Indians, soldiers, scouts, trappers and hunters were known to use the route long before wagon traffic began around 1823 and continued until the 1880's when railroads were established.

The Cimarron Cut-Off route of the Santa Fe Trail passed through Cimarron County. William Becknell, the Father of the Santa Fe Trail, used the Cimarron Cut-Off or Jornada (Desert) route in 1822. This route saved ten days and would carry 75 percent of all future trade.

The Cimarron Heritage Center hosts a Santa Fe Trail Tour on the first Saturday of October annually. This caravan stops at favorite wagon stopping points in the county, such as Trujillo Springs, Wolf Mountain, Autograph Rock and Camp Nichols. All sites are on private land. There are two places in the county where the Santa Fe Trail crosses public highways. One is north of Boise City on US Highway 287 and the other is west of Boise City on State Road 325.

Camp Nichols and Autograph Rock are designated as National Historic Landmarks. Autograph Rock is open to the public from May-September by permission only. Contact the Cimarron Heritage Center at 580-544-3479 or museum@ptsi.net for permission or more information.

All sites that are on private land are currently closed due to drought and high-fire conditions.

Our annual Santa Fe Trail Daze celebrates the events and history of this epic trail.