Heritage Trail

Hispanics and the Road to Santa Fe

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Of all the legacies left by the Santa Fe Trail, perhaps its most important is the people and cultures it brought together. Through the support of a Humanities grant, KHC is helping the Santa Fe Trail Center in Larned explore the lasting impact of Hispanic culture on the trail, just in time for National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanics and the Road to Santa Fe is the 2014 theme of Rendezvous, the Santa Fe Trail Center's bi-annual symposium featuring presentations highlighting the history and significance of the historic trading trail. Rendezvous takes place September 18 - 20 and topics include "Mexican Trade Laws" by Robert Torrez, "Our Friend Melgares': Spaniards and the Mexicans and the Santa Fe Road" by Leo Oliva, "Trade During the American Era of the Santa Fe Road" by Marcus Gottschalk, "Hispanic Women and the Santa Fe Trail" by Alice Ann Thompson, and "The American Invasion of New Mexico and Mexican Merchants" by David Sandoval. The schedule also includes "The Antonio Chavez Murder," speaker Anthony "Tony" Juarez's story of the 1843 murder of his prominent Spanish ancestor, Don Antonio Jose Chavez, on the trail.

A full schedule of events and a registration form can be found here.

KHC Grants

Humanities grants for seminars and symposia exploring a common theme are available. Contact Murl Riedel, director of grants, for more information.

Banner image: "Arrival of the Caravan at Santa Fe," c. 1840. Image courtesy of kansasmemory.org, Kansas Historical Society, Copy and Reuse Restrictions Apply.