Santa Fe Trail Postcard Activity

Example of a postcard created using the fillable template with a photo of Pecos National Historical Park Photo/NPS

Mail was an important form of communication for Santa Fe Trail travelers. They would write letters to their loved ones, to friends, and to business partners. Some historical letters provide descriptions of the trail, the food travelers ate, the animals they saw, and the goods they transported in their wagons.

Now, it’s your turn! Use this postcard template to write to a friend or family member about the Santa Fe Trail. Visit nps.gov/safe to explore the people, places, and stories of the trail!

To ensure that your postcard can be delivered, make sure you print the template on cardstock or poster board. If you only have printer paper, you can mail your postcard in an envelope.

Activity Options

You can either draw a Santa Fe Trail scene on your postcard or use our fillable template to upload your favorite trail photo to the postcard.

• Template for drawn postcard
• Template for photo postcard

Steps for a postcard with a drawing

• Print the postcard template on cardstock or poster board

If you don’t have cardstock or poster board, print on regular paper

• Be sure to select “print on both sides” so your postcard has a front and back side
• Front side:

Draw a picture of a Santa Fe Trail site or scene. Be creative!

• Back side:

On the left side, write a message to your friend or loved one about what you learned about the Santa Fe Trail

• On the right side, write the name and address of your friend or loved one
• Cut out your postcard
• If you used cardstock or posterboard, add your stamp to the box that says, “Add Stamp Here”

If you used printer paper, place your postcard in an envelope and add your stamp to the top right side.

• Mail your postcard!

Steps for a postcard with a photo

for postcard with a photo

• Open the fillable postcard template in a PDF reader
• Front Side:

Click on the image icon on the front of the postcard and choose the image you want on your postcard

• Back Side:

On the left side, type a message to your friend or loved one about what you learned about the Santa Fe Trail

• On the right side, type the name and address of your friend or loved one
• Print the postcard template on cardstock or poster board

If you don’t have cardstock or poster board, print on regular paper

• Be sure to select “print on both sides” so your postcard has a front and back side
• If you used cardstock or posterboard, add your stamp to the box that says, “Add Stamp Here”

If you used printer paper, place your postcard in an envelope and add your stamp to the top right side.

• Mail your postcard!

Postcard template with a drawing of a Santa Fe Trail landmark, Rabbit Ears Mountain Photo/NPS

200th Anniversary Events Map

Learn More

Explore history on the Trail

### Santa Fe National Historic Trail

Learn more about historic trails!

### National Trails

Where this belongs

• Santa Fe National Historic Trail

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