Research has taught me how much local history can be wrong. Here is a good example. Local history holds that since 1541 when Coronado was led through Kansas, that a crossing was used by their Indian guides called an old ancient trail used by their ancestors. History has Coronado Crossing about 4 miles east of Dodge City where a cross monument marks where they think Coronado held the first Christian Service in North America. See pictures. In 1821 William Becknell, dubbed the Father of the Santa Fe Trail, was also led by Indian guides across the Arkansas on a trail they called ancient and used by their ancestors. History has it "around where current 2nd st. crosses the Arkansas today". They also camped on a hill after crossing the river.
What history missed is the obvious connection to a familiar crossing by all who dared cross the Arkansas on the Santa Fe Trail to Santa Fe. This cutoff was called "La Jornada" (The Journey) by the Spanish, because it left the safety of the Arkansas River where they had access to water, but cut two days off the trip to Santa Fe. Why historians never put these travelers crossing together is beyond me, but my research shows they were one in the same. This same crossing had been used since before Coronado's crossing in 1541, and is right in the middle of downtown Dodge City.
Also shown in the pictures is the crossing as it looks today. I always wondered why Sunnyside street was not North & South, but on an angle from 2nd St. researching, I found that Sunnyside followed an old trail that crossed the Arkansas at 2nd st. and headed straight towards Santa Fe.
So, Coronado crossed at the same ancient trail in 1541 that William Becknell used in 1821, and the first Christian Service was held on what later became Boot Hill.
I have tried to get them to change this misinformation, but they have a Coronado Bridge east of dodge and the Coronado Cross on a hill east of dodge. Still there today.
Take that ameture historians LOL.