For a modern trip along the Oregon Trail you won't need a covered wagon full of supplies. If you want something akin to the original experience, however, consider a road trip that includes camping under the stars.
They came by the thousands from Missouri to the Oregon Territory to make a brand new start in the West. The best estimates are that between 200,000 and 400,000 emigrants traveled the Oregon Trail. This involved a 2,000 mile overland journey before the time of the transcontinental railroad. The emigrants traveled in a wagon train for a simple reason...safety. The trail from western Missouri to Oregon was wild and untamed country. There was always the danger of attack from hostiles Indians. The army established a line of forts but their troops could not easily be relied on because the distance to the nearest military post could be hundreds of miles. In regards to the wagon trains, excellent remainders of Oregon Trail wagon wheel ruts can still be seen at Lake Guernsey State Historic Park in Wyoming. Because the trail was primitive and strewn with rocks there was always the chance of a wagon breaking a wheel or axle so traveling with many others meant there was plenty of assistance. In the evening the wagons would gather in a circle mainly to get some protection from the elements. Many historians contend that the main reason wagons formed a circle at night was for protection against the weather and not necessarily for protection from Indians. They say that although some wagon trains were attacked by hostiles, this was rare. The cost for a family to travel the Oregon Trail was about $1,000. Add to that the cost of roughly $400 for the wagon. A typical wagon could carry from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds. The wagon train typically would depart Missouri in April. Certain progress had to be made so that the train would not be stranded in the mountains during harsh weather. At mountain altitudes brutal snow storms could hit well before winter. The authority in the wagon train was the wagon master. You could say he acted as a mayor. He made the decisions that affected the train as a whole. He also hired the scouts. Scouts usually had been traders or trappers and they knew the trails well and knew where to guide the train. The Oregon Trail had it's end point in the fertile Williamette Valley in Oregon. This valley was and still is Oregon's main population area. It contains most of Oregon's towns and cities and was the site of the first university on the West Coast. The valley was originally inhabited by the British through the Hudson Bay Company. After that it was jointly inhabited by the U.S. and British and eventually only by the U.S. after the 1846 Oregon Treaty. The Clackamah and Kalapuya were the dominant Native Americans in the valley. See our article with photos of Oregon City, the official end of the Oregon Trail. If you are planning an Idaho vacation, I would highly recommend a visit to the National Oregon/California Trail Center. This is an interactive museum located in Montpelier, Idaho displaying wagon trains, trading posts and other pioneer attractions. Here you will see and hear and become part of a reenactment of a simulated wagon train journey. Montpelier is located in the Bear Lake Valley in southeastern Idaho. A visit there is definitely a worthwhile history lesson as well as fun for the entire family. You may also find a related short story interesting about the unique "wind wagon", used by Samuel Peppard to travel 500 miles over the Great Plains. Another interesting stop is Independence Rock where many westward emigrants etched their names into the rock. (Photos are from the public domain)
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is an ideal family camping destination, only 2 hours from Winnipeg. Keep reading to learn about 5 of the best ways to entertain the family while you're there.
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When we spent the weekend in Walla Walla last fall, we stopped by the Whitman Mission for a little leg-stretching between visiting wineries. As you would expect, the NPS provides plenty of information on the history of the Mission. CAM surprised us by sharing what he had learned in his Washington State History class about …
From discovering the world's oldest shoes to setting up Bigfoot traps, here are some of the strangest (and most amazing) things to happen in Oregon.
To bring some inspiration to this little corner of the internet, I wanted to share a fun bucket list for some of the coolest hikes in the United States that Nathan and I have on our radar. While health remains a priority, hiking is a great way to get out and be socially distanced while embracing nature. Be sure to wear + bring a mask on trails to keep yourself protected if you do head out and research the local wildlife. Hoping these spots lead you to a place where you can clear your mind!image
Spruce Woods Provincial Park is an ideal family camping destination, only 2 hours from Winnipeg. Keep reading to learn about 5 of the best ways to entertain the family while you're there.
shortlisted for the Booker Prize Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for FictionCaryl Phillips' ambitious and powerful novel spans two hundred and fifty years of the African diaspora. It tracks two brothers and a sister on their separate journeys through different epochs and continents: one as a missionary to Liberia in the 1830s, one a pioneer on a wagon trail to the American West later that century, and one a GI posted to a Yorkshire village in the Second World War. 'Epic and frequently astonishing' The Times'Its resonance continues to deepen' New York Times
Check out nine surprising facts about the route that once served as the gateway to the American West.
A Guide To History And Genealogy In North Carolina
In the year 1836, the first wagon train set off from Independence, Missouri, heading west. That wagon train followed the Oregon Trail, a route laid down by fur
This region played a huge role in the early day's of the Oregon Trail. You can visit the park today and view the wagon ruts yourself!
✰ PDF CROSS STITCH PATTERN ✰ ✦ Feel free to use it with any floss or fabric you have on hand, but this palette is intended for DMC. ✧ Pattern measures at 70x98 stitches -5 x 7” on 14ct Aida -6.125 x 4.375” on 16ct Aida -5.5 x 3.875” on 18ct Aida -4.5 x 3.125” on 22ct Aida ✦ 1,735 total stitches ✧ Colors in palette: 9 ✦ This is a PDF pattern only. No fabric, floss, or other materials are included in the listing. If you are interested in a FINISHED version of this pattern, please DM me! ✰ Listing Includes: ✰ ✧ PDF pattern to be printed, or viewed on a smartphone or tablet (and never shared!) ✦ A digital mock-up of the finished cross stitch ✧ DMC color chart ✰ How To Access Your Files ✰ ✧ Once your payment is confirmed, you will receive an email from Etsy Transactions with a link that will redirect you back to Etsy to download your files. ✦ You can choose to either print your pattern, or view them in a PDF reader on any smart device. ✰ Copyright Information ✰ ✧ All Occult Grandma patterns are for personal use only. Do not photocopy, redistribute, share, or sell any portions of it, in any form. If you intend to sell the FINISHED version of any of my charts, I kindly request that you message me first, and please credit my shop in any of your photos or listings. If you would like to purchase a commercial license for an Occult Grandma chart, please DM me. Any photos of finished objects on social media or your personal site should include a link to my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/OccultGrandma. ✦ Due to the nature of instant downloads, all sales are final. If you have any issues or questions about the chart, do not hesitate to DM me! ✰ Are you looking for a custom pattern that you don't see on my page? I can help with that! You can message me any time either directly from my Etsy shop, or at occultgrandma[at]gmail.com. ✰ ✰ All of the patterns in my shop are available in their finished version! Prices will vary on size and detail, please contact me and we can discuss it. ✰ ✰ View my other patterns here: www.etsy.com/shop/OccultGrandma ✰ © OccultGrandma 2019
For the last few years, I’ve spent time journeying through a space of trying to figure out my life’s passion. In the process I’ve talked…
About Pioneer Cat Every pioneer girl should have a cat she takes with her on the Oregon Trail. Nine-year-old Kate Purdy is traveling from Missouri to Oregon by wagon train, and she’s worried. She isn’t worried about how long the trip will be or the hardships she’ll have to suffer. She’s worried about Snuggs—the pretty little cat who took a shine to her and decided to come along for the ride, even though there are no pets allowed on the wagon train. So no matter what happens, Snuggs the cat has to stay a secret! History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today’s renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!
Gain instant access to this beautifully designed Unit on Westward Expansion, where kids will learn all about The United States in 1815, Trails West, the Race to California, and more. Access 3 different reading levels perfect for Grades 3-8. Written by subject experts, aligns with standards.
