The Santa Fe Trail

Historians of the Frontier and American West

by Robert L. Duffus

Originally published in 1930 and now considered the standard work on the subject, this lively history is now available only from the University of New Mexico Press.

“A vivacious and accurate chronicle of one of the great highways of commerce.”—Henry Steele Commager

“Best of this century on the subject; swift reading.”—J. Frank Dobie

Genres: History

283 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1972

Reviews

[Kayce Basques · Rating 4 out of 5]

In June 2019 I went on a road trip across the Southwest and stumbled on this book in Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe. I found the author’s writing style captivating. Although it was written in 1930 I found the author’s viewpoint to be mostly “modern” in the sense that he seems to have compassion or at least understanding for the Native Americans who lived through the 1800s. For example he often pokes fun at America’s supposed “civilization” by pointing out how cruel and violent the American frontiersmen often were, and he also talks about Native Americans with the understanding that foreigners were invading their land and destroying their way of life. Although the author often refers to Natives as “savages” which was always jarring. If you’re spending time in the Southwest I can heartily recommend this book if you want to feel more of a connection with the land and its history.

[Pier Zeringue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about an area of history that I k ew nothing about. Duffus is able to tell the story of the Trail with accuracy while also displaying how romantic the trail was. I’m doing so he is able to show the reader how those that traveled the trail felt. 10/10

[Larada Horner-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of information about the aSanta Fe a trail & all the characters that made it. Lots of history.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and fun read, written originally in 1930, so the tone is pre hermeneutics of suspicion. Though written by a professional historian, the text avoids footnotes and arcane historical references. The first part of the book sets out early explorers who traveled the Trail, or perhaps did. Since the stance of the author is a supra-time line overview, the day to day struggles on the Trail lack the poignancy of some of the more famous eye witness accounts (such as Susan McGoffin, Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847). But because it reads easily and quickly, I heartily recommend it to those with an interest in the history of Santa Fe, New Mexico and the high plains of Texas.