Journal Entry 03-20-2004
Back in Time: Signal Oak

Today was a touch of Spring in the air, sunny but with clouds scudding across the sky in a light breeze.  I was riding with a friend.  As I was not born in Kansas, she wanted to share with me a half-forgotten piece of local Kansas history.   It was a beautiful country drive at this time of year, but not a simple route.

Outside of Lawrence, KS, we took Route 10, heading east.  At the Lenexa exit, we turned off onto Route 1057, heading south.  Then we turned right (west) onto Route 460, heading towards Vinland.  On the west side of Vinland, We turned left (south) (Note: Route 460 also turns south at this point) to follow Route 1055.  Continue south on 1055 and then turn east onto Route 500 (a small dirt road, see sign “Rice Wood Land”).  Turn right (south) on to Route 1750 (another dirt road, see sign “Baker University).  All along the road was evidence of old farm fields and houses, a small bridge of railroad ties across a creek, and abandoned gardens, bright with irises in bloom (and in summer, daylilies).  Our destination was on this winding road at the top of a long hill.

The top is dominated by a huge oak tree, surrounded by descending levels of fallow fields and upland meadows, and the sounds of song birds.  Two signs are posted: one, the original sign is much weathered; the second is a modern replacement with clear text.

“On this quarter acre site, overlooking three valleys, Coal Creek, Wakarusa, and Kansas, stood the famous Signal Oak Tree.  It was a stately white oak at the time of the Civil War whose branches were used to hold signal lanterns.  This park, donated to the Sante Fe Trail Historical Society, was a gift from dedicated local historians.”

   Lighted, the lanterns were used to signal messages on the Underground Railroad and could be seen in all three valleys, many miles away to the north.  I imagined what dangers these signals might have communicated, and what lives might have been saved.  

Today the area is used by Baker University for a Nature Reserve, and by the University of Kansas as an Ecological and Biological Reserve.