Historically significant for being one of the most important parts of the Santa Fe Trail for its abundance of grass for animal grazing, timber, and water, the Council Grove Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1963. The site is quite different from other declared historic districts, as the 6 contributing properties are not exactly in one single area. Some of them are not really side by side.

The Council Grove Historic District is named after the event that addressed the importance of the area. Council Grove was actually a gathering for a treaty where the US Federal Government asked the Osage Indians for assurance that the Santa Fe caravans could get safe passage through the tribe?s territories. The event took place in 1825.