California Trail

The escort's guide was Black Beaver, Se-ket-tu-may-qua, a Lenape trapper born about 1806 near present Belleville, Illinois. He spoke English, French and Spanish besides Lenape and about eight other Native languages, and he had already served the Dodge-Leavenworth Expedition of 1834. Marcy engaged him to lead the 1849 emigrants from Fort Smith toward Santa Fe, and on the return Black Beaver's shortcut across the prairie cut a two-month trip to two weeks. Marcy later wrote that he always found him perfectly reliable, brave and competent, a hero who never sounded his own trumpet.

What the plaque says

California Trail Crossed here Caravans of gold seekers in the Rush for California traveled this Trail in spring, 1849, under military escort commanded by Capt. R.B. Marcy. Route lay west from Ft. Smith, south side of Arkansas and Canadian rivers, across Oklahoma. Camp ground and spring, 3 mi. west, well known on this famous Trail. Oklahoma Historical Society and State Highway Commission 1949

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Run of '89 South Boundary — 7.5 mi