The OregonTrail

Independence, Missouri was the “jumping off” point for emigrants traveling the

Oregon Trail

A. The Great PlainThe first stage of the Oregon

Trail. This plain was a “carpet of fresh green grass”.

During the summer, storms occurred frequently creating mud. Rain was also a problem because it soaked everything.

Along these plains more than 15 million buffalo roamed.

The Wagon Train

At night, the wagon formed a strong barrier (circle) for protection and to keep the animals from roaming away.

Why “circle the wagons”? What is this?

We’ll talk about it later

B. The Platte RiverThe relatively easy part of

the trip. The river is shallow but a half-mile wide.

To cross this river usually the animals were driven over first. Then the men swam across to attach a line to assist the women, children, and supplies.

Settlers also experienced the problem of Native Americans stealing from the them.

Fort LaramieFort Laramie was a point of

no return before the Rocky Mountains.

Here emigrants restocked keeping in mind they had to cross the Rockies.

Independence RockIndependence Rock was a

massive granite cliff where traveler would carve their names, initials, and dates onto the rock. Some even wrote letters.

While traveling, emigrants suffered from many ailments such as fevers and sores on unwashed bodies.

Heat exhaustion sometimes caused children to fall off of the wagons and be run over by the wheels.

Emigrants had to battle mosquitoes, gnats, bees, flies, snakes, wolves, bears, and buffalo.

Significance of date?

C. Rocky MountainsAt the Rocky Mountains

travelers had to cut paths through the thick forest. They face steep mountains and deep gulches. Wagons had to be completely unloaded in order to cross this range.

Emigrants discovered a dramatic change in weather.

Going down the Rockies was as treacherous. Men had to hold ropes easing wagons down the mountain range.

D. South PassThe South Pass was a

passageway through the Rockies in Wyoming.

Weather was always unpredictable.

The Pass could be dry with little grass for the animals to graze.

Traveling over the terrain settlers experience problems such as hot sun, cold nights, and weather.

E. The Great BasinThe Great Basin

was located between the Rockies and the Cascade and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The region was dry up until the Snake River.

F. Snake River

Reaching the water of the Snake River was tough at some points with deep gorges and bluffs.

The river was fast with large submerged boulders. Crossing this river was very dangerous.

G. Columbia RiverTo avoid going over

the Cascade mountains, travelers rafted along the Columbia River.

Travelers had to unload the wagons and prepare them to raft down the river.

Rafters used rope and tar to water-proof the wagons.

H. Willamette Valley

• This was the final destination of most emigrants who traveled the Oregon Trail.

• Upon reaching the Willamette Valley, the settlers would have traveled 2,400 miles.

Remnants of the Oregon Trail

Note the ruts left by the wagon wheels

Courthouse Rock Jail Rock

Chimney Rock

Why might this have been an important sight for emigrants on the trail?

Between 1843- 1868, more than a half million people went west on the Trail.

By 1869, The Oregon Trail is no longer an important travel route because the transcontinental railroad was completed.   

People traveled west on a train rather than on foot or in wagons.