Havana Stage Station, Osage County,
Kansas – Built in 1858, the ruins of the station and hotel
are found 4 miles west of Burlingame along the Santa Fe
Trail.
The Havana Stage Station was built
in 1858 and was a mail stop on the Santa Fe trail offering meals
and lodging until 1869. At 130 yards behind the sign (and
cache) are the remains of the hotel and stage station.
About fifty German and French
families settled here. The large stone hotel was erected: a
large distillery and brewery were started. Soon the leading
merchants failed and the town was abandoned in the early
1870's. Many of the Germans moved to Alma and the property
was sold for taxes.
The historic site sign was erected
by the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce and the Flint Hills Chapter
of the S.F.T.A. Down the road to the west there is an area
were you can still see ruts from the Santa Fe trail. There is a
marker along the road indicating where to look.
Please DO NOT cross the fence to see
the ruins up close. You will be trespassing! Cache is
reachable from the public right of way.