Timeline
1812 --Astor employee Robert Stuart discovered South Pass, which eventually became the most popular passage through the Rockies
1812--Wilson Price Hunt traveled from St. Louis to Astoria, Oregon, using a route that resembled what would be the Oregon Trail
1824--Jeremiah Smith led a group through the South Pass
1830--Americans and British dispute over ownership of Oregon Country
1836-- Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman were the first pioneers the follow the Oregon Trail
Spring 1842--The first overland migration of farming families to Oregon took place; 1,750 pioneers traveled the
route
1843--John C. Frémont made an expedition to Oregon and said Oregon Country was good for settling
1850-1860--Heavy migration through the Oregon Trail
1869-1900s--Union Pacific Railroad was created, therefore the Oregon Trail was rarely used
1914--The last wagon passed over the trail
1812--Wilson Price Hunt traveled from St. Louis to Astoria, Oregon, using a route that resembled what would be the Oregon Trail
1824--Jeremiah Smith led a group through the South Pass
1830--Americans and British dispute over ownership of Oregon Country
1836-- Missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman were the first pioneers the follow the Oregon Trail
Spring 1842--The first overland migration of farming families to Oregon took place; 1,750 pioneers traveled the
route
1843--John C. Frémont made an expedition to Oregon and said Oregon Country was good for settling
1850-1860--Heavy migration through the Oregon Trail
1869-1900s--Union Pacific Railroad was created, therefore the Oregon Trail was rarely used
1914--The last wagon passed over the trail
People and the Route
The Oregon Trail was used by natives for trade before the west was explored by settlers. Multiple expeditions were financed by John Jacob Astor, whose employees founded the post of Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. Astoria was a popular trading post that flew the American flag and proclaimed America's presence. It was by the Columbia River, which was the great inland waterway of the West Coast. John C. Frémont’s 1843 expedition to the west generated favorable publicity for the Oregon Country. The official first overland migration of farming families to Oregon took place in spring 1842. This trail was the primary westward route to west.
The journey started in Independence, Missouri and ended in Oregon City, Oregon; an expedition of about 2,000 miles. "Jumping-off points," included St. Joseph, Missouri, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and basically anywhere else. The trail followed the Platte river to the 1st landmark: Fort Laramie about 665 miles from the starting point. After a rest at the fort, families trekked along the North Platte to the Sweetwater River, and thence by this river to South Pass. The South Pass was the midway point of the journey, and was the gradual gateway across the Continental Divide to the interior of the continent. After 100 miles, the trail came to Fort Bridger, where it turned northwest toward Fort Hall on the Snake River. They then followed the Snake to the valley of the Grande Ronde River, and then across the Blue Mountains to the Columbia River. Columbia to Fort Vancouver was the final stage. Most of the pioneers traveled south down the Willamette River to the growing agricultural settlements.
In 1869 the Union Pacific Railroad completed a route to the west, the 2 weeks journey on train was more favorable as opposed to 6 month trip on a wagon. The trail was not as used as often since after that date.
The journey started in Independence, Missouri and ended in Oregon City, Oregon; an expedition of about 2,000 miles. "Jumping-off points," included St. Joseph, Missouri, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and basically anywhere else. The trail followed the Platte river to the 1st landmark: Fort Laramie about 665 miles from the starting point. After a rest at the fort, families trekked along the North Platte to the Sweetwater River, and thence by this river to South Pass. The South Pass was the midway point of the journey, and was the gradual gateway across the Continental Divide to the interior of the continent. After 100 miles, the trail came to Fort Bridger, where it turned northwest toward Fort Hall on the Snake River. They then followed the Snake to the valley of the Grande Ronde River, and then across the Blue Mountains to the Columbia River. Columbia to Fort Vancouver was the final stage. Most of the pioneers traveled south down the Willamette River to the growing agricultural settlements.
In 1869 the Union Pacific Railroad completed a route to the west, the 2 weeks journey on train was more favorable as opposed to 6 month trip on a wagon. The trail was not as used as often since after that date.
Newspaper/ Article Clippings
Settlers were enticed to move West by the promise of inexpensive, unsettled land, as the Eastern states were growing increasinly crowded. These brave pioneers desired religious and other freedoms as well. The Gold Rush also drew attention to the West as the lure of gold and propserity attracted many.
The Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of about 87 members attempted to take a short cut through the Sierra Mountains on the Oregon Trail to cut off a significant amount of travel time. They separated from the main party and the families approached the summit of the Sierra Mountains. Unforunately for the group, six feet of snow made it impossible to continue on. The extreme amounts of snowfall as well as a broken axle caused the group to erect make shift cabins and ration their small food supply. Due to the major snowfall they could not forage or hunt, therefore they resulted to cannibalism. After many months, some members took off to find help and they ended up stumbling upon a small town. Rescue parties found the remaining members and of 87 original members only 48 survived the ordeal.
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