Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail, also known as the Oregon-California Trail, is one of the most important events in American history. This trail was a 2,170 mile trail route from Missouri to Oregon and California that enabled early pioneers to settle in the western United States. The first people to make the trip were Marcus and Narcissa Whitman in 1836. However, the first large migration on the Oregon Trail was in 1843 when about 1,000 pioneers made the journey. This trail was the only land route for settlers to get to the West Coast, but not until the first transcontinental railroad was completed (1843-1869), there were over 500,000 people who made the trail through covered wagons pulled by oxen or mule. Some went all the way to Oregon to farm but some went to California in search of gold (California Gold Rush). The trip usually took 4-6 months by wagon (traveling 15 miles a day) or the only route to the west, by sea, which took a full year.
Although taking on the Oregon Trail might have been exciting, major problems like sickness, weather, and expediency had delayed the process of the trail. Cholera was a big problem for people on the trail because wagons would sometimes loose two-thirds of it's people to the disease. Bodies were usually left on the side of the road or buried in shallow graves that allowed animals to be able to dig them up and scatter the bones. This was really unnerving to most pioneers.
Another major problem was weather. Traveling on the Oregon Trail in the summer meant thunderstorms, lightning, and hail. Some were killed by lightning or hail the size of baseballs. Sadly, one in ten travelers did not make the journey.
Expediency was another problem for pioneers. It was a race with time because the winter snows could close in the mountain passes. Before the Barlow road was opened, travelers would have to leave their wagons for boats to float down the Columbia River. Many lost their lives to the rapids.
Once pioneers got to Oregon and California, they would start a new life by building farms or gold mines. Today, one can drive the Oregon Trail and visit 125 historic sites and see over 300 miles of existing wagon ruts. The Oregon-California Trial transformed the nation by enabling pioneers to extend to the western United States to farm and search for gold to enlarging our country.
For more information about the Oregon Trail click here.
Although taking on the Oregon Trail might have been exciting, major problems like sickness, weather, and expediency had delayed the process of the trail. Cholera was a big problem for people on the trail because wagons would sometimes loose two-thirds of it's people to the disease. Bodies were usually left on the side of the road or buried in shallow graves that allowed animals to be able to dig them up and scatter the bones. This was really unnerving to most pioneers.
Another major problem was weather. Traveling on the Oregon Trail in the summer meant thunderstorms, lightning, and hail. Some were killed by lightning or hail the size of baseballs. Sadly, one in ten travelers did not make the journey.
Expediency was another problem for pioneers. It was a race with time because the winter snows could close in the mountain passes. Before the Barlow road was opened, travelers would have to leave their wagons for boats to float down the Columbia River. Many lost their lives to the rapids.
Once pioneers got to Oregon and California, they would start a new life by building farms or gold mines. Today, one can drive the Oregon Trail and visit 125 historic sites and see over 300 miles of existing wagon ruts. The Oregon-California Trial transformed the nation by enabling pioneers to extend to the western United States to farm and search for gold to enlarging our country.
For more information about the Oregon Trail click here.