santa fe trail

[yea_68]

which states did the santa fe trail cut through when it first "opened for business" in 1821?

[simms]

A very nervous state

[Marsh]

The trail had two major routes. The mountain route began in western Missouri, passed through Kansas, southeastern Colorado, and ended in New Mexico. Its length was approximately 900 miles. The cutoff route began in western Missouri, passed through Kansas, through the Oklahoma panhandle, and ended in New Mexico. It was approximately 800 miles.

http://www.awav.net/trailctr/

[Clanad]

This could be one of those "trick" questions, because, as I've pointed out previously, none of the states the trail went trough were states at that time.  As an example, New Mexico, the terminus of the route did not become a state until 1915. It's possible that Missouri could be the only one, but the trail was acknowledged to have begun early in 1821 and Missouri became a state that year, but late in the year... very tricky... Good luck!