The Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron County, Oklahoma

by Wayne Cooper

The Santa Fe Trail is thought to be the oldest and longest commercial highway across the Great Plains, from the Missouri River east of present day Kansas City crossing nearly 800 miles southwest on its way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. A direct path across the plains (the Cimarron Route or Cimarron Cut-Off) was used almost exclusively.

The Cimarron Route began from one of the many crossings of the Arkansas River between the lower bend and Choteau’s Island. It ran southwest across Kansas, the corner of southeastern Colorado, and into Cimarron County of the Oklahoma panhandle near the northeast corner. Crossing the Cimarron River, it angled in a southwesterly direction across the county and passed near Wolf Mountain, Flag Springs, Cold Springs, and Camp Nichols. The trail left the county near the southwest corner, closer to McNees Crossing in Union County, New Mexico.

The Cimarron Route was the road to Santa Fe for wagon traffic from 1822. It was shorter and easier to travel with mule and ox drawn freight wagons. The trail was used into the 1870’s when the railroad was built into Colorado.

At approximately 1541, one of the earliest travelers on the Trail through this area is believed to be the Spanish explorer, Don Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. Others known to have followed portions of the Santa Fe Trail included numerous scouts, soldiers, trappers and buffalo hunters.

The Trail also served as a trading route of the Kiowa, Ute, Comanche and Apache tribes. Along the Trail, Autograph Rock has evidence left in writings on sandstone cliffs made by campers who chose that location to rest their wagon trains.

The Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron County, Oklahoma by Wayne Cooper was dedicated on April 12, 2005 the commission was managed by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.

The painting is located outside the Oklahoma State Senate lounge on the fourth floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol and can be viewed daily from 8:30-5:30 when the Senate is not in session.

The Artist

Wayne Cooper is an acknowledged national painter known for his portrayals of Western and American Indian subjects. He comes from a background of Indian heritage and was raised on a small ranch gaining first hand knowledge of Oklahoma ranch life.

Cooper is listed in Artists USA, Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in American Art, International Who’s Who in Art and Antiques, Universal Directory of the Art and Personalities of the Americas, and others.

His works consist of oils, water colors, charcoals, pencil, sculpture (bronzes) and lithographs. His works are held in many private and public collections worldwide, including the halls of the Oklahoma State Senate and House of Representatives.