"The wagons left Pawnee Rock some time before us. I was anxious to see this wonderful curiosity.
While mi alma watched on the rocks above...I cut my name...It was not done well,
for fear of the Indians made me tremble and I hurried it over."
— Susan Shelby Magoffin, Pawnee Rock, 1846
---We have plenty of other special activities as well. Click here to see our past ones.
---The Wet-Dry Routes Chapter has had some great lectures and programs. Click here for a sample of the many topics.
DAR Marker east of Fort Dodge along highway 400 at the Wet/Dry Routes Junction. In 1858, H. B. Mollhausen wrote: "By the way, there is a road across the upland known as the 'Dry Road.' It is even shorter than the road down the river which has been called the 'Water Road,' but the 'Dry Road' is always avoided by the oxen caravans, and usually by the mule caravans, too, because of the lack of water." Numerous diaries, journals and military records refer to these two distinct routes that could be taken between the areas of east of present-day Larned, KS and east of present-day Fort Dodge, KS. The Wet Route followed closely the route of the Arkansas River and provided a continual source of water. Although the Dry Route was a bit shorter and lessened the travel time, sources of water were inconsistent. Written accounts placed the shorter distance of the Dry Route as anywhere between 8-15 miles. The area where the Wet/Dry Routes joined was a well-known camping spot for caravans.