Historical Marker

Women of the Santa Fe Trail

Historical marker location:

I-25, Raton vicinity, New Mexico

( Tinaja Rest Area; south of Raton)

The Women of the Santa Fe Trail endured untold hardships traveling across the Great Plains. In 1829, six Hispanic women were the first known female travelers going east on the trail. In 1832, Mary Donoho was the first woman whose name was recorded to travel west along the trail in 1832. Susan Shelby Magoffin and Marion Sloan followed and both wrote about their experiences.