
National Historic Trail
The Butterfield Overland Mail Stagecoach Route through Indian Territory, 1858-1861
Publications & Resources
Videos: The Butterfield Trail in Oklahoma (Produced by Richard Hunt, Oregon-California Trails Association) https://youtu.be/Q1VD6YF1bVc
“Retracing the Butterfield Route Across Oklahoma,” Expedition Portal, March 9, 2020: https://expeditionportal.com/retracing-the-butterfield-route-across-oklahoma/
The Butterfield Trail in Oklahoma (YouTube video from Tombstone Gathering of the Southern Trails Chapter of Oregon-California Trails Association, Produced by Richard Hunt): https://youtu.be/2e9g6M-BGBc
Civil War Album, Butterfield Mail Route in Oklahoma: http://civilwaralbum.com/indian/butterfield1.htm
Articles from the Chronicles of Oklahoma:
Early Trails Through Oklahoma by Grant Foreman, Vol. 3 No. 2, June 1925, 99-119. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1826904/
California Mail Route Through Oklahoma by Grant Foreman, Vol. 9 No 3, September 1931, 300-317. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1827063/
American Airlines Along the Butterfield Mail Route by Vernon H. Brown, Vol. 33 No. 1, Spring 1955, 2-13. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1796160/
Tour Along the Old Butterfield Overland Mail Route, Vol. 33 No. 3, Autumn 1955, 394-396. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1827495/
The Butterfield Overland Mail One Hundred Years Ago by Muriel H. Wright, Vol. 35 No. 1, Spring 1957, 55-71. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1760988/
Notes on the Butterfield Overland Mail Centennial, Vol. 35 No. 2, Summer 1957, 228-229. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1760989/
Centennial of the Butterfield Overland Mail Organization, Vol. 35 No. 4, Winter 1957-58, 474-477. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1760991/
Stagecoach Mail, Oklahoma’s Philatelic Year by George H. Shirk, Vol. 36 No. 1, Spring 1958, 51. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1796162/
Committee Report, Butterfield Overland Mail, Vol. 36 No. 4, Winter 1958-59, 446-472. https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1796165/
Driving Route:
Email me at susan.dragoo@gmail.com for .gpx files for driving route.
Station and important landmark waypoints:
Walker’s Station 35.25110, -94.59135
Skullyville Cemetery 35.25130, -94.59436
Trahern’s Station 35.12362, -94.80192
Edwards Store (https://edwardsstore.com/) 34.99750, -94.97420
Holloway’s Station 34.97586, -95.05120
Riddle’s Station 34.92035, -95.25617
Mountain Station 34.83669, -95.42446
Pusley’s Station 34.79684, -95.46578
Blackburn’s Station 34.66957, -95.74213
Waddell’s Station 34.56725, -95.93317
Geary’s Station (inundated under Lake Atoka) Approx. Site 34.45577, -96.08921
Atoka County Museum and Confederate Cemetery (https://www.okhistory.org/sites/atokamuseum) 34.40010, -96.11710
Boggy Depot 34.31942, -96.30777
Nail’s Crossing 34.12820, -96.39309
Fisher’s Station 33.98527, -96.45444
Colbert’s Ferry 33.81837, -96.51614
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