Dragoon Trail
Encyclopedia
In 1933, the State of Iowa
opened the Dragoon Trail, a scenic and historic drive along the Des Moines River
.
The trail follows the path of the 1st U. S. Dragoons, the country's first mounted infantry unit, on their historic march in the summer of 1835, to scout Iowa after the Black Hawk Purchase
of 1832 put the area under U.S.
control. The march lead to the establishment of outposts from present-day Fort Dodge and Webster City through Des Moines to Pella and Knoxville.
The Trail is about 200 miles long and passes cultural, historical, natural and scenic attractions including Lake Red Rock
, Ledges State Park, the Kate Shelley High Bridge
and Dolliver Memorial Park
.
It starts with two branches originating from Fort Dodge and Webster City
that join near Stratford
; from there it runs through Boone
and Des Moines
to the Red Rock Dam
between Pella
and Knoxville
.
For more details see Dragoon Trail.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
opened the Dragoon Trail, a scenic and historic drive along the Des Moines River
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
.
The trail follows the path of the 1st U. S. Dragoons, the country's first mounted infantry unit, on their historic march in the summer of 1835, to scout Iowa after the Black Hawk Purchase
Black Hawk Purchase
The Black Hawk Purchase, sometimes called the Forty-Mile Strip or Scott's Purchase, was a land acquisition made in what is now Iowa by the United States federal government. The land, originally owned by the Sauk, Meskwaki , and Ho-Chunk Native American people, was acquired by treaty following...
of 1832 put the area under U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
control. The march lead to the establishment of outposts from present-day Fort Dodge and Webster City through Des Moines to Pella and Knoxville.
The Trail is about 200 miles long and passes cultural, historical, natural and scenic attractions including Lake Red Rock
Lake Red Rock (Des Moines River)
Originally the city of Red Rock, Lake Red Rock, also referred to as Red Rock Reservoir is a reservoir formed by Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River, about 55 miles southeast of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The dam was completed in 1969 as a flood control project by the United States Army Corps of...
, Ledges State Park, the Kate Shelley High Bridge
Kate Shelley High Bridge
The Kate Shelley High Bridge is among the highest double-track railroad bridges in the United States. It is located approximately 3 miles west of the city of Boone, Iowa....
and Dolliver Memorial Park
Dolliver Memorial State Park
Dolliver Memorial State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, featuring high bluffs and deep ravines on the Des Moines River. The park is located south of Fort Dodge and northwest of Lehigh.-Geography:...
.
It starts with two branches originating from Fort Dodge and Webster City
Webster City, Iowa
Webster City is a city in Hamilton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,070 at the United States 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. Webster City is known as 'Boone River Country' with the Boone River meandering along the east side of the city from north to south...
that join near Stratford
Stratford, Iowa
Stratford is a city in Hamilton and Webster counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 746.-Geography:Stratford's longitude and latitude coordinatesin decimal form are 42.270919, -93.926862...
; from there it runs through Boone
Boone, Iowa
Boone is a city in and the county seat of Des Moines Township, Boone County, Iowa, United States. It is the principal city of the 'Boone, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area', which encompasses all of Boone County. This micropolitan statistical area, along with the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan...
and Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
to the Red Rock Dam
Lake Red Rock (Des Moines River)
Originally the city of Red Rock, Lake Red Rock, also referred to as Red Rock Reservoir is a reservoir formed by Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River, about 55 miles southeast of the city of Des Moines, Iowa. The dam was completed in 1969 as a flood control project by the United States Army Corps of...
between Pella
Pella, Iowa
Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,832 at the 2000 census. Pella is the home of Central College as well as several manufacturing companies, including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company.- History :...
and Knoxville
Knoxville, Iowa
Knoxville is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County. Knoxville is home of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum located next to the famous dirt track known as Knoxville Raceway.-History:The site for...
.
For more details see Dragoon Trail.