The Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association (KCAHTA) was born from a challenge issued by National Park Service Superintendent Jere Krakow at the 1987 Santa Fe Trail Symposium. He urged attendees to go home and get local communities excited about the newly designated Santa Fe National Historic Trail.

That challenge took root in Kansas City in 1992 when members of the Morris Association for Family & Community Education, with help from C. Lee Kroh and others, began mapping the historic Fort Leavenworth to Fort Scott Military Road through their community. What started as a local effort quickly grew.

Formation of KCAHTA

On May 20, 1993, a group of dedicated volunteers officially formed the Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association (KCAHTA). The organization adopted a clear mission: “Map, Mark, and Promote Preservation of Historic Trails in the Kansas City Area.”

Major Milestones

• 1994 – Installed 72 historic markers along the Fort Leavenworth–Fort Scott Military Road.
• 1996 – Completed installation of 161 markers across multiple counties.
• 1997 – Published 8,500 Historic Frontier Trails Maps, which received national recognition.
• 2000 – Marked the Independence Route, completing signage for all major trails in the area (368 signs total).
• 2001 – Created the Signmasters program – volunteers who inspect and maintain the 353 brown trail signs quarterly.
• 2013–Present – Received multiple grants to replace weathered or damaged signs and install interpretive exhibits.

Our Purpose Today

KCAHTA remains committed to promoting public awareness of the historic trails in the Greater Kansas City area and to preserving them through research, mapping, marking, interpretation, and education. We work closely with local municipalities, the National Park Service, and many partner organizations.

What began as a small group answering a challenge in 1987 has grown into a respected organization dedicated to preserving the rich trail heritage of the Kansas City region for future generations.