Historical Marker Program

California Road

Dewey County
Location: on OK-34, two miles north of Leedy
Coordinates: 35.896909, -99.337047
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Town of Leedey
Topics: Transportation; Ranching; Settlement Patterns; Westward Expansion, 1803–1861

Near here on May 28, 1849, was the camp of a large party of gold seekers en route to California with a military escort under the command of Captain R. B. Marcy. The California Road was used by travelers for over 50 years. East of here about four miles are traces of the Western Cattle Trail to Dodge City, Kansas.

Note: This marker was reported damaged on April 9, 2025.

California Road

Roger Mills County
Location: at junction of US-283 and OK-33, 14 miles north of Cheyenne
Coordinates: 35.797609, -99.723281
Material: Aluminum
Sponsor(s): Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Topics: Military; Transportation; Westward Expansion, 1803–1861

In April 1849 Capt. Randolph Marcy, commander of Fort Towson, received orders to escort the Fort Smith and California Emigrating Company through Indian Territory. The expedition departed from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and generally followed the Canadian River, past towns and trading centers as well as geographic features such as the Antelope Hills located northwest of this marker. Although the company asked for a military escort to California, Marcy’s detachment accompanied them as far as Santa Fe, New Mexico, before returning to Fort Smith via a southern route through Texas and Indian Territory that was later utilized by the Butterfield Overland Mail.