Two miles from my house is the original Santa Fe Trail, disguised today under a layer of pavement and renamed the Kansas City Road. During the 1860’s it was a major highway linking the Missouri River and Kansas City with the American Southwest. Adjacent to the trail is the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm where James and Lucinda Mahaffie and their eight children once lived. It’s the only working stagecoach stop left on the Santa Fe Trail.
The family operated a prosperous 320-acre farm thirty-five miles west of Independence in Olathe, Kansas. Besides running a farm, they also served meals to stagecoach passengers and travelers in the unique cellar dining hall and kitchen of their home. Sometimes they served as many as seventy-five passengers a day. That’s a lot of drive-through for a single day in the 1860’s!
This part of Missouri and Kansas was a melting pot on the frontier with Yankee abolitionists and southern slave owners, Hispanic merchants and American Indians, African Americans and French fur traders. Discover what life was like for the Mahaffies, their neighbors and travelers when you visit the original 1865 limestone farmhouse, operated today by the City of Olathe Parks and Recreation Department.
The farm comes to life with living history activities on weekends in the spring and fall: ride the stagecoach, watch the blacksmith at work, taste a hot cross bun, visit the Mahaffie house or the enormously interesting Heritage Center filled with history and interactive displays. This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail. If you’re in the area, you really should take advantage of this historic treasure on the trail. Check their website for dates and times. https://www.mahaffie.org/mahaffie-home-page.
Spring is on the way. Many of us have had our vaccinations with more adding to the number every day. What historical sites are near you? Don’t wait for company to come knocking on your door before you hit the trail–Santa Fe or otherwise–and find a great place to enjoy.
Before I say good bye, a gentle reminder that Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and I have the perfect gift idea for your mother, sister or special friend: Marcello’s Promise is available in hardback, softcover and eBook on Amazon. Thanks and Happy Spring!
I love your posts about local history. So interesting.
Carole, I hadn’t visited Mahaffie in over 20 years or so until last fall. They have a wonderful Heritage Center that I was so impressed with. Hope you and Rick are doing well! We’re at the lake already
Jane
Jane the photos are great! The ladies with the masks, make it very interesting.
I love that place! A book in your future??? Hugs, my friend! Mary Beth
Mary Beth, so great to hear from you! Yes, Mahaffie is such a great place and so close to home. I hadn’t been there for years until last year. The cultural center/museum is so well done. Big hugs back to you
So far no new book but I did write a short story last winter. Maybe more of those?
Jane