Trail of Tears National Historic Trail traces the removal of the Cherokee through our area. The Cherokee were removed from their homelands and several groups were taken across Crawford County in 1837-1839. Before the Cherokee forced removal took place, Native Americans in this part of Missouri were the Osage Indians.
Thirteen detachments of Cherokee took the overland route through Missouri. It was called the Trail of Tears because of its devastating effects. Ten of those detachments, forcibly walked through Steelville. Lt. B. B. Cannon, U. S. Army, led the first detachment of Cherokees of approximately 365 Cherokee in late 1837.