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Santa Fe Trail Center Association Rendezvous happening through Saturday
Dry Route Crossing marker dedication sheds light on history of Boyd Ranch
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Thursday evening, historian Dr. Leo Oliva was the speaker at the dedication for the marker at Dry Route Crossing, an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail. The dedication opened the Santa Fe Trail Center Association's Rendezvous, which will continue through Saturday. - photo by Veronica Coons

LARNED — The Santa Fe Trail Association Rendezvous began on Thursday evening at the Santa Fe Trail Center Museum. The three-day event was opened with the dedication of a marker designating the location of the Dry Route Crossing at Boyd’s Ranch. The ceremony was moved from the actual location to the east exhibit space at the museum when dark clouds began appearing in the distance earlier in the afternoon. 

Historian Dr. Leo Oliva spoke about how Dry Route Crossing was used by travelers of the Santa Fe Trail as early as the 1830s. At some point, a toll bridge was erected, and became an important site on the Santa Fe Trail. 

While ownership of the crossing changed hands many times, Oliva focused his talk on two owners, Charles Weidner, who operated the post from 1867 to the end of 1868. After the post was burned and raided by Kiowa Indians, he sold what was left to Albert H. Boyd. Boyd built a large sod building, rebuilt the toll bridge, and continued to expand the operation into a true trading ranch. As his prosperity grew, he helped to establish other cities in Pawnee County, started businesses in Dodge City, and became involved in county politics as an elected official. In the early 1880s, his business dealing in Dodge City began to go south, and Boyd began to fall on hard times, Oliva said.

Boyd continued to farm and ranch at the Dry Route Crossing until 1888 when he deeded the trading ranch to the Peoples Bank of Larned, apparently to satisfy debt.  He listed the many businesses and investments Boyd made not only in his business, but in the surrounding area. 


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The Dry Route Crossing marker is located at the Larned State Hospital campus, where Boyd Ranch once operated during the 1800s. - photo by Veronica Coons

Pawnee Drive. To get there, travel to the junction of K-156 and K-264 west of the museum. Turn left and take 264 to the entrance of the Larned State Hospital campus at the T-intersection with South and East Pawnee Drive. From there, turn right and travel a short distance to where the sign is located on the north side of the road. 

Following the dedication, a dinner program was held, with Jane Van Coevern and Aaron Mahr presenting a talk on the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails Act. For more information on Friday and Saturday’s activities, call the Santa Fe Trail Center Museum at 620-285-2054.