Old Spanish Trail Facts- Historic Trade Route Details Revealed For Kids

The Spanish National Historic Trail was first discovered by Antonio Armijo, a Mexican who was crossing along the New Mexico trail to Los Angeles in 1829.

Although the route through Santa Fe and New Mexico had been traveled on even earlier, the new links between California and the state of New Mexico were never truly explored. Once discovered, the route became the regular path for most traders in Mexico and America.

Since the route included a complex combination of routes, such as arduous pack mule route, horse route, footpaths and routes yet to be explored, the travelers began to call it the Old Spanish Historic Trail route. Previously a regular city, Santa Fe eventually developed into a trading hub as travelers across Mexico and America continued to use this route.

Some even found wagon trails that could be followed to get to Santa Fe in an easier manner.

Read on for more information regarding the Old Spanish Historic Trail and the complete historic trade route. Afterward, also check Osborne house facts and Champ De Mars.

Old Spanish Trail Location

The Old Spanish Trail is located on the route from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles and then reaching California. The entire area is towards the Southwest, with no permanent road structures made anywhere around.

The entire Spanish National Historic Trail route was roughly 684 mi (1,100km) long with mountains, deep canyons, and even deserts along the way.

The Armijo route covered six modern-day states and the trades sometimes took as long as two years to complete one journey. Some believe that the native Americans had forged these trails in their attempts to reach America in the early years of civilization.

Tourists are now taken to this location, either via cars or by hot air balloons to view the Armijo route, and to learn about the Old Spanish Trail route and its historical significance.

Old Spanish Trail History

Back in 1776, when the Spanish left Santa Fe to explore the cities towards New Mexico, they did not pay much attention to the trek that could become the discovery of years to come.

During his journey and exploration, Armijo had to travel across the Mojave River and Mojave desert in order to provide assistance to another fellow trading party. He then finally reached San Gabriel Mission located in California.

His trading party was alive but had been starving for days. They were relieved to get some real food and water. After trading their blankets, the team of traders began their journey back to New Mexico via the same route and were celebrated upon their arrival there.

On their journey on the Old Spanish Trail route, they even had to pass through the grand junction and then Colorado. After Antonio Armijo showed courage and followed his vision, traders were able to make great fortune.

On the way, they passed southern Nevada until reaching the Mexican military on the border. The early traders' trail was soon rediscovered and celebrated.

This collective network of routes which the locals started to call the Spanish National Historic Trail became the route for major international trade. Armijo had traced Rafael Rivera's route to bring in the new inflow of trade.

Once the old Spanish trail was discovered, the Spanish claimed that they had known about the route since the 16th century and therefore had ownership of it. It is to honor this claim that the Old Spanish Trail route was named after the Spanish.

The Old Spanish National Historic Trail soon became the most traveled and used for trade. Families started to travel in large caravans with their goods to participate in international trade.

As Santa Fe grew in popularity, the trade between New Mexico and the US also increased. Along with these, the Indian tribes who lived in nearby regions came into view for the first time.

The Old Spanish National Historic Trail soon began to be used for trading Indian slaves. There were three routes that emerged at first, of which the animal-friendly route was being used to transfer the Indian slaves across borders.

Due to this, the earlier Indian tribes in the Mojave stopped helping traders find their roads. Jedidiah Smith was the second person to date to have followed the path that went through Mojave.

He began his journey from central Utah through southern Utah, till he reached the Colorado River. From there he could see the settlements along the California coastal plains with the help of the guiding Indians.

Jedidiah Smith became the first-ever Anglo-American to have been able to travel all the way from Mexico to California via land. Jedediah Smith's routes, that is the Mojave route, became less traveled as attacks became prevalent there.

After the Mexican-American war, the relations between the two were not great and therefore trading was halted for a few months. The Mexican-American war had increased the clashes and hatred and therefore business was put on hold.

Eventually, in 1848, the US took control of the entire Santa Fe trail and the Southwest. They made newer routes which allowed more people to travel easily. This led to frequent use of the once glorious Old Spanish Trail.

As years passed, people forgot about the historic route. With this northern route removed, the newer routes became the main route on which people continued to travel for their trades.

An association to protect the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, known as the Old Spanish Trail Association was created after a few years of recovering the trail. This association has been devoted to the protection and promotion of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail route and several other such historical routes.

The land management committee states that even the route northwest of the main route needs protection and promotion.

Old Spanish Trail Known For

The old trade route has great historical importance and is known for establishing a direct route for trading between New Mexico and the US. The interest in understanding this trade route peaked again in 1921 for the first time since the war between Mexico and America.

This peak occurred only after an article was written about the history of the place.

All the major trade between these two countries has regularly taken place ever since the route was discovered. This route however was most widely used from 1830-1850. It is believed that most traders stopped just before arriving north of Cedar City.

Although the path remained mostly the same, not all the areas were suitable for wagons and mules. Over the years certain alternatives were also discovered around the main route, making the journey a bit easier. Everything from woolen textile to blankets was carried in wagons and on the back of the mule to trade in the different cultures.

Old Spanish Trail Management

As the interest in this subject matter peaked, more research took place and lost trail and information were discovered. Prominent scholars from Cedar City, in Southern Utah, formed the Spanish Trail Association.

They quickly started working by marking the trade route with roughly 100 flags but as soon as the task was done, due to lack of maintenance, the route faded again and the organization lost its enthusiasm.

The efforts were revived again and this time it was celebrated greatly in Nevada. Markers were installed near the green river area and all along Grand Junction in Colorado.

Much focus was also on the North branch as discussions started to take place on a larger scale about the historical significance of this place. It was much later that the supporters formed the Old Spanish Trail Association (OSTA).

After much research and study the Public Lands Management Act was passed for making this place more remembered and known. It was only later in 2001 that the Old Spanish Trail was finally recommended to be included in the national trail system.

The land management system of Colorado and Green rivers and that of Southern California celebrated the national trail system all the way to Mexico City when the Spanish Trail Recognition Act was passed.

The area is now a well-known tourist spot where the whole history is narrated to the tourists and there are various documentaries also created on the same. The National Park Service takes good care of maintaining these sites.

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