Traveling Trunk
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
El Hombre tells the story of Julio, who travels with his merchant father from Santa Fe to the railroad heading at Hays City, Kansas in 1868. Though only twelve, Julio is expected to conduct himself as an adult and shoulder his fair share of the work. The story's climax comes when Julio receives his father's watch, a symbol of manhood. While the story has a "coming of age" theme, it also tells the story of the Mexican involvement in the Santa Fe trade, an often overlooked part of the Santa Fe Trail history.
You can access the photos for all the items in the trunk on the Fort Larned website.
Materials
For background information on the Santa Fe Trail.
Last updated: February 28, 2019