Although the original Oregon Trail led weary travelers from Independence, Missouri, to where Oregon City is located today, now, the Oregon Trail starts in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and doesn't end until Cannon Beach, Oregon, turning it into a full cross-country trip.
What is the Oregon Trail?
The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) east-west, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of what is now the state of Kansas and nearly all of what are now the states of Nebraska and Wyoming.
What happened on the old Oregon Trail?
With fully loaded covered wagon carts, roughly half a million American settlers progressed through the Old Oregon Trail. Some of the traces they left on the road can be spotted even to this date, such as Wyoming’s Guernsey Ruts. At the Deep Rut Hill, pioneers were traversing across soft sandstone.
What are the legacies of the Oregon Trail?
One of the enduring legacies of the Oregon Trail is the expansion of the United States territory to the West Coast. Without the many thousands of United States settlers in Oregon and California, and thousands more on their way each year, it is highly unlikely that this would have occurred.
How many people used the Oregon Trail?
From the early to mid-1830s (and particularly through the years 1846–69) the Oregon Trail and its many offshoots were used by about 400,000 settlers, farmers, miners, ranchers, and business owners and their families. The eastern half of the trail was also used by travelers on the California Trail (from 1843),...
Does any of The Oregon Trail still exist?
Remnants of the Oregon and California Trails can be found by continuing on the trail at Massacre Rocks Rest Area to the historical site . To reach this site, walk past the Snake River overlook and through the tunnel that goes underneath both lanes of the interstate highway.
What is The Oregon Trail used for today?
It features steep hills and iconic views, which were used to guide travelers along. Today it is used to educate people on the trail and is a great spot to learn about how the trail is preserved.
When was The Oregon Trail last used?
The Trail was in regular use from 1843 until the 1870s. When the Union Pacific completed the first railroad link to the West Coast in 1869, the preferred route became by train to San Francisco, then north to Oregon by ship, but wagon trains could still be seen on the Oregon Trail as late as the 1880s.
What is The Oregon Trail called now?
Read a brief summary of this topic Oregon Trail, also called Oregon-California Trail, in U.S. history, an overland trail between Independence, Missouri, and Oregon City, near present-day Portland, Oregon, in the Willamette River valley.
Can you visit the Oregon Trail?
The Oregon National Historic Trail extends over 2,000 miles from the Missouri River to Oregon. There are museums, historic sites, churches, and original trail segments located all along the length of the trail to Oregon.
Can you walk the Oregon Trail?
That's right, you too can walk the Oregon Trail. Several long segments of trail exist that can be backpacked or day-hiked, and there are dozens of short hikes around historic attractions, interpretive centers and Oregon Trail landmarks.
Why did the Oregon Trail end?
The final wagon stop on the Oregon trail, Oregon City welcomes visitors with food, drink, museums and outdoor activities. Oregon City was the end of the trail for many because it was where land claims were granted for Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.
When was the last wagon train?
By late October, 1853, the last of the wagons in the lost train had been driven down to Lowell, along the Middle Fork of the Willamette River. The river was forded more than forty times during the final leg of the journey.
Does the Santa Fe trail still exist?
Historic preservation The longest clearly identifiable section of the trail, Santa Fe Trail Remains, near Dodge City, Kansas, is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Is the Oregon Trail open?
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is currently closed for renovations.
How many people used the Oregon Trail?
From the early to mid-1830s (and particularly through the years 1846–1869) the Oregon Trail and its many offshoots were used by about 400,000 settlers, farmers, miners, ranchers, and business owners and their families.
What states are on the Oregon Trail?
The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of what is now the state of Kansas and nearly all of what are now the states of Nebraska and Wyoming. The western half of the trail spanned most of the current states of Idaho and Oregon.
What did the emigrants use to cross the Missouri River?
Those emigrants on the eastern side of the Missouri River in Missouri or Iowa used ferries and steamboats (fitted out for ferry duty) to cross into towns in Nebraska. Several towns in Nebraska were used as jumping off places with Omaha eventually becoming a favorite after about 1855. Fort Kearny (est. 1848) is about 200 miles (320 km) from the Missouri River, and the trail and its many offshoots nearly all converged close to Fort Kearny as they followed the Platte River west. The army maintained fort was the first chance on the trail to buy emergency supplies, do repairs, get medical aid, or mail a letter. Those on the north side of the Platte could usually wade the shallow river if they needed to visit the fort.
What was the consensus of women and men on the Overland Trail?
Consensus interpretations, as found in John Faragher's book, Women and Men on the Overland Trail (1979), held that men and women's power within marriage was uneven. This meant that women did not experience the trail as liberating, but instead only found harder work than they had handled back east.
Who were the first people to colonize Oregon?
On May 1, 1839, a group of eighteen men from Peoria, Illinois, set out with the intention of colonizing the Oregon country on behalf of the United States of America and drive out the HBC operating there. The men of the Peoria Party were among the first pioneers to traverse most of the Oregon Trail. The men were initially led by Thomas J. Farnham and called themselves the Oregon Dragoons. They carried a large flag emblazoned with their motto " Oregon Or The Grave ". Although the group split up near Bent's Fort on the South Platte and Farnham was deposed as leader, nine of their members eventually did reach Oregon.
When was the Oregon Trail established?
Established. 1830s by mountain men of fur trade, widely publicized by 1843. Governing body. National Park Service. Website. Oregon National Historic Trail. The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) east-west, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon.
Where is the Oregon Trail?
The Oregon Trail. The route of the Oregon Trail shown on a map of the western United States from Independence, Missouri (on the eastern end) to Oregon City, Oregon (on the western end) Map from The Ox Team, or the Old Oregon Trail 1852–1906, by Ezra Meeker. Location. Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon.
How many miles of trail ruts are there in Oregon?
Imagine yourself an emigrant headed for Oregon: would promises of lush farmlands and a new beginning lure you to leave home and walk for weeks? More than 2,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen along the Oregon National Historic Trail in six states and serve as reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American settlers. Read More
What is a National Historic Trail?
Many folks wonder what a national historic trail actually is. Hear from trail staff about how we define these important parts of history.
What would have happened if the Oregon Trail had not been completed?
Had it not been for the Oregon Trail, it would have taken a lot more time for pioneers to inhabit the American West in the 19th century. The legacy they left on the trail lives on.
How long was the Oregon Trail?
The Oregon Trail extended at almost 2,200 miles and led American settlers of the 19th century to the West in their quest for new and better life.
How many settlers were there on the Oregon Trail?
With fully loaded covered wagon carts, roughly half a million American settlers progressed through the Old Oregon Trail. Some of the traces they left on the road can be spotted even to this date, such as Wyoming’s Guernsey Ruts. At the Deep Rut Hill, pioneers were traversing across soft sandstone. Little by little the thousands of wheels wore down the rock, carving ruts as deep as five feet.
What act encouraged the settlement of Oregon?
A few years later, the 1850 Oregon Donation Land Act, which in essence encouraged the settlement in the territory of Oregon, triggered a tidal wave of settlers eager to get their own piece of land.
What did the settlers do before setting out?
Before setting out, the settlers usually sold all their property, closed down any active businesses and got rid of any valuables they weren’t able to carry on the road.
How many people died on the trail?
According to History, roughly one in every ten people died on the trail. Families did not have much choice but to bury their deceased loved ones beside the trail and resume their journey.
What is the name of the rock that was inscribed on the trail?
Independence Rock is among the most famous relics on the trail. The gigantic granite monolith still contains the names of thousands of settlers who passed through the area and inscribed their name on the rock. The site is also called the “Great Register of the Desert.”
What was the Oregon Trail?
Extending across half the continent and snaking more than 2,170 miles through territories that would later form Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon, the Oregon Trail was the essential route that pioneers used on their way to the West. The great encounters would pass through spacious plains, rolling hills, ...
Who created the Oregon Trail map?
Map from the Ox Team, or the Old Oregon Trail (1852–1906), by Ezra Meeker. For those who remember, there was even a classic computer game back in the day, also called “the Oregon Trail.”. While the real excitement among gamers came down to managing all the misfortunes and challenges of their own wagon on the trail, ...
How many miles of wagon ruts are there in Oregon?
Just below today’s National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center of Flagstaff Hill, where emigrants would get their first glance at the Baker Valley, there are seven miles of wagon ruts to be seen going across the terrain.
Where is the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center?
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center – Baker City, Oregon. photo credit. Some of the ruts are parallel to one another, perhaps as wagons would pass by each other in a hurry. Whoever was slower would fail to reach Powder River first.
What was the name of the landmark that pioneers passed by as they moved through Nebraska?
Chimney Rock, one of the most prominent landmarks pioneers passed by as they moved through Nebraska. A couple of crossing points were used, but the Upper Crossing was of the utmost importance as it led directly to Ash Hollow, which was the best approach to the North Platte River.
Where is the Conestoga wagon reenactment?
Conestoga wagon on Oregon Trail reenactment at Scotts Bluff.
Where did the fur trail start?
The journey would begin in Independence, Missouri, and end at the Columbia River in Oregon. While the routes were first used by American fur hunters in the 1820s, the real heyday of the trail was a few decades later, when thousands of pioneers followed the trails blazed by Native Americans in order to reach the West Coast.
How far is the Oregon Trail in Nebraska?
Nebraska. north side of U.S. 30, approximately 4.5 miles west of Brule. Trail Info: A steep climb of 240 feet in 1½ miles. Deep ruts, which are still plainly visible today, were created as the wagons were dragged up the hill. three miles west of Gering, Nebraska on Old Oregon Trail (Highway 92 West)
How long is the trail to Fort Laramie?
west of Fort Laramie. Trail Info: Travel the 1.5 mile trail along the river to explore one of numerous crossings used by trappers, traders, American Indians, and emigrants to reach Fort Laramie. Bedlam Ruts. west of Fort Laramie National Historic Site.
Is the historic trail a modern day trail?
Walking the trail is a different kind of hiking experience! In some places, the historic trail is a current modern-day hiking trail. In others, it could be a modern-day asphalt road. Experiences vary, so please check with individual locations for more details.
What is the Oregon Trail?
The legendary trail has carved itself into American history— and, in some places, into the earth itself. Any child of the 1980s is familiar with the basic skeleton of the Oregon Trail, from the celebrations warranted by a sight of Chimney Rock to the dangers of running a team of oxen at a grueling pace with meager rations.
Where did the Oregon Trail start?
The trail began in Independence, Missouri, and continued to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, where pioneers could decide to either stay put or continue north or south and settle. As the Oregon Trail evolved, thousands of wagons wore ruts into the ground that acted as an ad-hoc road for the settlers who followed.
How far did the Pioneers drive up California Hill?
Right after reaching the other side of the water, wagons had to drive up 240 feet in a little more than a mile and a half, leaving deep ruts up the hill that are still visible today. Almost everyone on the Oregon Trail had to take this route, and California Hill was the first major climb they encountered on the trail.
How many miles of the Oregon Trail were built?
The trail itself—all 2,170 miles of it—was braved by more than 400,000 people between 1840 and 1880. Weighed down with wagons and their pesonal possessions, the pioneers that dared travel the Oregon Trail slowly helped build the United States' western half.
Where are the wagon ruts in Oregon?
Just below the modern-day National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on Flagstaff Hill—where pioneers got their first glimpse of the Baker Valley—seven miles of wagon ruts are visible across the ground. This site has what might be the first passing lanes in the west; some of the ruts run parallel to one another, implying that some wagons passed others going slower in order to get to Powder River first.
Why did wagon wheels leave ruts?
But they didn’t follow a single solid path. Rather, wagon wheels left ruts across the country as pioneers found various shortcuts and easier routes along the way. Many of those ruts still exist today, though some of them are in danger of destruction as municipalities push to stretch bigger and better power supplies across the region.
Where to see the Oregon Trail?
There are two great spots that I would suggest to see the Oregon Trail. One is Blue Mountain Crossing, just off I-84, about nine miles west of La Grande. It’s a half-mile paved, easy accessible trail that follows some of the best preserved and most scenic traces of the Oregon Trails. Blue Mountain Crossing has discovery trails where you can ...
Where to walk in the footsteps of the pioneers?
Blue Mountain Crossing has discovery trails where you can literally walk in the footsteps of the pioneers. Plus, there are benches and picnic tables where you can rest. The second spot I suggest is the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City.
Overview
- After following Route 24 to Interstate 435, travelers will hit the state line of Kansas. This is where more sightseeing can take place and a stop in Kansas City is a must; while it looks entirely different than it would have back then, it's a great excuse to stop and get some BBQ before head…
History
Routes
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Statistics
Other trails west
The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) east–west, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of what is now the state of Kansas and nearly all of what are now the states of Nebraska and Wyoming. The western half of the trail spanned most of the current states …
Legacy
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson issued the following instructions to Meriwether Lewis: "The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, & such principal stream of it, as, by its course & communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado and/or other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this cont…
See also
As the trail developed it became marked by many cutoffs and shortcuts from Missouri to Oregon. The basic route follows river valleys as grass and water were absolutely necessary.
While the first few parties organized and departed from Elm Grove, the Oregon Trail's primary starting point was Independence, Missouri, or Westport, (which …