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First Emigrants on the Oregon Trail

Beginning the great migration to oregon.

In May of 1843, hundreds of would-be emigrants assembled in Independence, Missouri and prepared to set off on a 2000-mile journey to Oregon.

They were all suffering from an insanity rampant in America of the 1840s: Oregon Fever.

It was not a sudden malady; it had been building since the Lewis and Clark expedition. Oregon developed a reputation of having a perfect, disease-free climate that could make it the breadbasket of the West. Hopeful merchants like Nathaniel Wyeth, crackpot propagandists like Hall Jackson Kelley, and government agents like Lt. William Slacum had all written books extolling Oregon’s virtues and encouraging settlement there. Fur traders had books written about their adventures out west.

The first person to follow the entire route of the Oregon Trail was Robert Stuart of Astoria in 1812-13. He did so in reverse, traveling west to east, and in the process discovered the South Pass, so named because it was south of the pass Lewis and Clark followed over the Continental Divide.

In 1834 New England merchant Nathaniel Wyeth and Methodist-Episcopal Missionary Jason Lee left for the Willamette Valley. Wyeth had made a trip to Oregon in 1832, and on his overland return he had contracted with trappers at the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous of 1833 to bring back supplies to sell at the next Rendezvous. He made good on his deal and at the same time guided Lee to the site of his proposed mission. The Wyeth-Lee Party was the first group of settlers to follow the entire route of the Oregon Trail. They were convinced by employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company to leave their wagons at Fort Hall and continue on to the Willamette Valley by pack animals, an inconvenient but successful tactic.

A similar trek was completed in 1836 when Captain Benjamin de Bonneville conducted Marcus Whitman and Henry Spalding to their missions. They were likewise convinced to leave their wagons at Fort Hall. Part of the historic significance of this party was the presence of the first white women — Spalding’s and Whitman’s wives — to reach Oregon by the overland route (a handful of others beat them to Oregon by a few months, but they arrived by ship). The Whitman Mission would figure prominently in the Oregon Trail story for the first few years it was in widespread use, as the Trail went past the Whitmans’ front door from 1843 until the deaths of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman in 1847.

Starting in 1841, Senator Lewis Linn of Missouri annually introduced a bill to Congress to extend American jurisdiction to Oregon and offer free land to white settlers and “half-breed Indians.” The prospect of 640 free acres of prime Willamette Valley farmland, as opposed to paying $200 for 160 acres in the States, was very enticing. The Donation Land Act finally passed Congress and was signed into law in 1850. For Linn’s efforts, he was rewarded with a namesake town in Oregon: Linn City, originally called Robins Nest and later renamed West Linn when a fire devastated Linn City’s business district and the town was rebuilt on higher ground a short distance west of its original location.

Another major milestone occurred in the spring of 1841, when the Western Emigration Society left Missouri for the Pacific coast. Led by John Bidwell and Captain John Bartelson, their intention was to go to California. However, at Fort Hall half of their number instead opted to head for Oregon.

The next year missionary Elijah White, newly appointed Indian Sub-Agent to Oregon, led 112 emigrants to Oregon. Their wagons were cut down to two-wheeled carts at Fort Hall, as it was generally believed at that time that wagons could not make the journey over the rough terrain of the intermountain West. Missourian Philip Edwards, who wrote a pamphlet in 1843 to discourage emigration, was correct in his observation that no one had yet taken wagons all the way to Oregon.

Two events occurred in the winter of 1842-43 that greatly changed the status of wagons on the trail. The first was Marcus Whitman’s dead-of-winter trip from Waiilatpu to Boston to plead his case before the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, which had ordered some of its Oregon missions to be closed. This successful trip put him in Independence on his way back to Oregon in the month of May, 1843. The other event was the Senate passage, 24 votes to 22, of Linn’s Oregon bill. Although it was eventually killed in the House, it came close to passing and encouraged hundreds of people to head to Oregon that year.

Whitman met a large party of emigrants in Independence and promised to join up with them somewhere along the Platte River after conducting business in Westport and Shawnee Mission. With his encouragement, the pioneers decided that there were enough of them to push their wagons all the way through to Oregon. Though the emigrants succeeded in getting some of their wagons into the Oregon Country, Whitman later convinced them to abandon their remaining wagons along the Columbia River, build rafts, and float downstream to Fort Vancouver and the Willamette Valley. It would not be until 1846, with the opening of the Barlow Road, that the first wagons rolled into the Willamette Valley.

On May 22, 1843, the party left Elm Grove, twelve miles out of Independence. After a shakedown trek of 100 miles to the shores of the Kansas River (the site of modern-day Topeka) they elected officers. The mule trains left first, afraid they would get stuck behind the slower, ox-drawn wagons. At least 120 wagons and 875 people with over a thousand head of livestock left for Oregon within days of one another. Over 700 people and a somewhat depleted herd of livestock arrived safely in Oregon that fall. Thirty of their number turned south and set out for California at the Malheur River.

The Great Migration to Oregon was underway.

The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet.

Oregon Trail: Facts, Dates, and Information About the Westward Expansion

The 2,200-mile east-west trail served as a critical transportation route for emigrants traveling from Missouri to Oregon and other points west during the mid-1800s. Travelers were inspired by dreams of gold and rich farmlands, but they were also motivated by difficult economic times in the east and diseases like yellow fever and malaria that were decimating the Midwest around 1837.

The Oregon Trail was laid down by trappers in 1811–1840, and was used by settlers from 1839–1869.

how long was the oregon trail?

The Oregon Trail led 2,200 miles, from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

how many people traveled the oregon trail?

350,000 (estimated)

how many people died on the oregon trail?

“One in 17 never made it.”

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Fur trappers lay down the oregon trail.

From about 1811 to 1840 the Oregon Trail was laid down by traders and fur trappers. It could only be traveled by horseback or on foot. By the year 1836, the first of the migrant train of wagons was put together. It started in Independence, Missouri and traveled a cleared trail that reached to Fort Hall, Idaho. Work was done to clear more and more of the trail stretching farther West and it eventually reached Willamette Valley, Oregon. Improvements on the trail in the form of better roads, ferries, bridges and “cutouts” made the trip both safer and faster each year. There were several starting points in Nebraska Territory, Iowa and Missouri. These met along the lower part of Plate River Valley which was located near Fort Kearny.

The many offshoots of the trail and the main trail itself were used by an estimated 350,000 settlers from the 1830s through 1869. When the first railroad was completed, allowing faster and more convenient travel, use of the trail quickly declined.

Oregon Trail: The Video Game

Dying of dysentery is still very much a thing, but the classic 80’s video game, The Oregon Trail, is getting a reboot.

Available on Apple Arcade, the beloved game is back, but this time with a greater emphasis on the lives and the perspectives of Native Americans that pioneers encountered.

“For Indigenous Peoples, westward expansion was not an adventure but an invasion,” the developers acknowledged, which earlier versions of The Oregon Trail failed to capture.

“Recognizing this complex history, we have collaborated with Native American scholars to bring a new level of respectful representation to the game,” they continued.

“For the first time, the game features Native American playable characters and stories, celebrating the history and cultures of the Peoples who first lived on this land and still live here today.”

Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail is the most famous of the Overland Trails used by thousands of American pioneers who emigrated to Oregon and other western territories during the age of Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion. It was blazed by frontiersman Robert Stuart in 1812–1813 and was most popular from 1841 to 1869.

The Oregon Trail , Albert Bierstadt, 1869. Image Source: Butler Institute of American Art .

What was the Oregon Trail?

Oregon trail summary.

The Oregon Trail was the most historic of the Overland Trails used by settlers, traders, and others to migrate to the western United States during the 19th century. The trail stretched for more than 2,000 miles from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, in present-day Oregon. The trail was originally used by Native American Indians for hunting and trading. Later, it was developed and improved by explorers like Lewis and Clark and Mountain Men like Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger . The trail gained widespread popularity in the 1840s when thousands of settlers started using it to move west. The trail’s popularity died out after the use of railroads started in the late 1860s, however, it played a significant part in the westward expansion of the United States and the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny.

Oregon Trail Quick Facts

• The Oregon Trail played a significant role in America’s fulfillment of Manifest Destiny .
• It is estimated that as many as 650,000 moved west on the Overland Trails, including the Oregon Trail, from the early 1840s through the end of the Civil War.
• Roughly one-third of those people went to Oregon.
• In total, the Oregon Trail was about 2,000 miles long.
• The desire to move west was called “Oregon Fever.”
• The Oregon Trail passed through the present-day states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
• The California Trail, Mormon Trail, and Bozeman Trail were all offshoots from the Oregon Trail.
• Wagons were pulled by oxen, not horses, because Indians would only take horses in raids.

Oregon Trail History

Robert stuart finds the south pass through the rocky mountains.

Robert Stuart was a member of the fur trading group known as the Astorians, who worked for John Jacob Astor and the Pacific Fur Company, part of the American Fur Company . Stuart led an expedition to the Oregon Country that established Fort Astoria. 

On the journey back to St. Louis, he discovered a path in the southern portion of present-day Wyoming that went over the Continental Divide and through the Rocky Mountains — and could be traveled by wagon. This part of the trail became known as the “South Pass,” because it was south of the route blazed by Lewis and Clark. The trail Stuart followed from Oregon back to St. Louis is what became known as the Oregon Trail.

Stuart and Astor kept the location of the South Pass a secret.

Running east to west, the trail started in Independence, Missouri, stretched west for approximately 2,000 miles, and ended in Oregon City, Oregon. It was not one continuous trail from Missouri to Oregon. It was a series of paths, trails, and wagon roads that often followed old Native American Indian trails. Along the way, it passed through six states including Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. 

Although there were several other westward trails, the Oregon Trail was the most popular. As more people emigrated west, towns along the route became alternate points of departure for the westward journey, including Atchison and Leavenworth in Kansas, St. Joseph and Weston in Missouri, and Omaha in Nebraska.

Jefferson’s Vision and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Even before Thomas Jefferson became President in 1800, he had dreams of a nation that stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. He tried to organize at least two expeditions that never came to fruition. Finally, the opportunity presented itself in 1803 when he received funding from Congress for a secret military expedition that was going to travel west, into French territory. The plan changed a few months later when France offered the Louisiana Territory to the United States. By the time the Lewis and Clark Expedition set sailed up the Missouri River, the Louisiana Purchase had been completed, eliminating concerns about trespassing in French territory. The expedition spent nearly three years exploring the area, and their reports encouraged many others to travel westward. 

Hudson’s Bay Company and the Fur Trade

Following the War of 1812 , the British presence in the west increased, primarily through the efforts of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Although the Treaty of 1818 between the United States and Great Britain established “joint occupation” of the Oregon Territory, the Hudson’s Bay Company essentially controlled the area.

However, the United States continued to explore the area west of the Louisiana Territory and sponsored more expeditions, which were led by men like Captain Benjamin Bonneville, John C. Frémont , and Kit Carson. The American expeditions usually stayed south of the Oregon Territory, including Stephen H. Long’s 1820 expedition into the Great Plains . During that expedition, he famously called the plains the “Great American Desert” — which effectively slowed westward migration for a short time.

Carson and other men, like Jim Bridger, Thomas Fitzpatrick , and James Beckwourth became renowned Mountain Men, known for their knowledge of the territory. Not only did they work for the fur trading companies but they also served as scouts for military and emigrant expeditions.

Jedediah Smith Maps the South Pass

Jedediah Smith led an expedition from the Rocky Mountain Fur Company into the Wind River Valley, in central Wyoming, for the winter of 1823–1824. At some point, they located the Crow Indians, who told them about a passage — the “South Pass” — through the Rocky Mountains that would safely take him across the Continental Divide, which ran between the Central and Southern Rocky Mountains.

In February 1824, Smith and his men went through the South Pass and made their way to the Green River in present-day Utah. They stayed there for the spring, trapping along the river and its tributaries.

Smith sent Thomas Fitzpatrick back to St. Louis to deliver the news of the “discovery” to William Henry Ashley, who used the South Pass to establish his Trapper Rendezvous system, which he started in 1825.

In 1830, Smith sent a letter to Secretary of War John Eaton, informing him of the South Pass. This allowed the route to become an important part of the Oregon Trail, as thousands of Americans used it to move west.

Wyeth-Lee Party

The first group of settlers traveled west in 1834, led by Nathaniel Wyeth and Jason Lee. Wyeth was a merchant from New England and Lee was a missionary. Wyeth made the trip to sell supplies at the annual Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, a gathering of Mountain Men in the Rocky Mountains. Lee was headed west to establish a mission to convert Native American Indians to Christianity. The Wyeth-Lee Party was the first to travel the full length of the Oregon Trail.

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman

In 1836, American missionaries, led by Marcus Whitman and his wife, Narcissa, took the Oregon Trail to the Willamette Valley. The Whitman Party was led by Bonneville. During the journey, the Whitmans became the first people to use wagons to make the journey on the trail. Narcissa Whitman also became one of the first Anglo-American women to travel the entirety of the Oregon Trail. Once they arrived in the Willamette Valley, the Whitman’s established a mission that was visited frequently by emigrants on their way west.

Fort Bridger

By 1840, the demand for felt hats decreased, which diminished the fur trade and Britain’s interests in the region. As the fur trade dwindled, many of the Mountian Men lead emigrants across the Great Plains and over the trail to their new homes in Oregon and California. Some, like Jim Bridger, also established trading posts along the Oregon Trail. Bridger’s post, called Fort Bridger, was set up in 1842 on Blacks Fork of the Green River, in present-day Uinta County, Wyoming.

Great Migration of 1843

During the winter of 1842–1843, Marcus Whitman traveled to Boston. On the return trip, he stopped at Independence, where a massive group of emigrants had gathered to make the journey west. This massive wagon train would be the first major migration along the Oregon Trail and became known as the “Great Migration of 1843.” It is estimated there were at least  120 wagons and somewhere between 800 and 1,000 men, women, and children.

Whitman did not go with the wagon train when it left for Oregon. He traveled to visit missions in the Great Plains but promised to meet them along the Platte River. John Gantt led the group until Whitman met up with them, and then Whitman led them to the Columbia River. 

Until then, no one had been able to travel the full length of the Oregon Trail in wagons. When expeditions reached Fort Hall in the eastern portion of the Oregon Territory, they were forced to abandon wagons and finish the trip on pack animals. Whitman convinced the members of the wagon train they could take their wagons with them. When the wagon train arrived near Mount Hood, the wagons were taken apart and floated down the Columbia River. By October, the emigrants arrived in the Willamette Valley.

From then until 1846, when a new road — the Barlow Road — was opened in the territory, allowing emigrants to travel the entire distance of the Oregon Trail by wagon.

Oregon Treaty

Following the Great Migration of 1843, emigration to Oregon increased and the call for the United States to take full control of the Oregon Territory grew, as supporters used the slogan, “54 degrees 40 minutes or fight!” 

President James K. Polk , a firm supporter of the concept of America’s Manifest Destiny, made a proposition to British officials to establish a boundary along the 49th parallel. Secretary of State James Buchanan and Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina worked with British officials to design the Oregon Treaty of 1846. Per the treaty, all of Vancouver Island was given to Canada, and the United States was given the lower portion of the territory, which comprised present-day Washington and Oregon. The treaty was ratified by the Senate on June 18, 1846.

Later Years on the Oregon Trail

Thousands of Americans streamed west to Oregon and California over the Oregon Trail following the Oregon Treaty. Some of the key events included:

• 1846 — The Donner Party became stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the winter.
• 1847 — Brigham Young led the Mormon Brigade to Utah.
• 1849 — Following the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in California, an estimated 30,000 emigrants went west at the onset of the California Gold Rush . At least 55,000 followed in 1850.
• 1851 — Congress passed the Donation Land Act, which granted land to settlers in Oregon and incentivized immigration.
• 1854–1857 — Immigration slowed due to the Indian Wars.
• 1858 — Gold was discovered in Colorado.
• 1859 — The first stagecoaches were used on the trail.
• 1860 — Silver was found in Nevada and the Pony Express started.
• 1863 — Gold was found in Montana and the Pony Express went bankrupt.
• 1866–1869 — The era of the overland trails came to an end with the railroads.

Interesting Facts About the Oregon Trail

Prairie schooners.

Emigrants primarily traveled the Oregon Trail in covered wagons, known as “Prairie Schooners.” They were built out of wood and iron and covered with waterproofed cotton or linen canvas. The wagons were usually about 10 feet long, and 4 feet wide, and could weigh up to 2,500 pounds when fully loaded. The pioneers often walked alongside the wagons, which were pulled by oxen or mules.

The wagons were typically loaded with enough food to finish the trip to the West Coast and included preserved foods, including hard tack, bacon, coffee, flour, beans, and rice. They also carried critical supplies, such as cooking utensils, clothing, candles, a rifle, tents, bedding, axes, and shovels.

They were called schooners as a reference to small sailing ships.

A Treacherous Journey

The journey was dangerous. The pioneers were exposed to harsh weather, threats from wild animals, and attacks from Native American Indians. Clean water was often an issue, and unsanitary conditions contributed to the spread of diseases, which led to the deaths of many settlers.

Destinations Other than Oregon

Despite the dangers, many people made the journey in search of new opportunities and a better life in the western territories. The Oregon Trail was the most popular of the westward wagon trails, but there were others. Some of them branched off the Oregon Trail, such as the California Trail , which left the Oregon Trail in Idaho and headed south to California, and the Mormon Trail, which went from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Oregon National Historic Trail

The Oregon Trail was popular until the Transcontinental Railroad connected the East to the West in 1869. In 1978, the U.S. Congress officially named the trail the Oregon National Historic Trail. Although much of the trail has been built over, around 300 miles of the trail have been preserved and can still be visited today.

Why was the Oregon Trail Important?

Oregon trail significance.

The Oregon Trail is important to United States history because it provided a vital path for westward expansion in the United States. The trail was used by hundreds of thousands of people in the 19th century. It played a key role in the settlement and development of the American West and will forever be linked with the concept of Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion.

Oregon Trail APUSH

Use the following links and videos to study the Oregon Trail, Manifest Destiny, and Westward Expansion for the AP US History (APUSH) exam. Also, be sure to look at our Guide to the AP US History Exam .

Oregon Trail Definition

The definition of the Oregon Trail for APUSH is a vital overland route to the western United States that extended from Missouri to the Oregon Territory. The trail was discovered in 1812, and then opened to emigration in the 1840s. Over the next 25 years, it is estimated that 500,000-650,000 people moved west on the Overland Trails, including the Oregon Trail.

Oregon Trail FAQs

Why was the Oregon Trail important for the settlement of the West?

The Oregon Trail was important to the settlement of the West because the eastern portion of the trail served as the main path westward for most emigrants. Several other Overland Trails branched off of it, including the California Trail, Mormon Trail, and Bozeman Trail. The Oregon Trail played an important role in America’s Manifest Destiny .

What was the most common cause of death on the Oregon Trail?

It is estimated that nearly one in every ten people died on the trail. The most common causes of death were sickness, particularly cholera, and accidents.

What was it like to be on the Oregon Trail?

This video from Weird History explores what it was like for pioneers on the Oregon Trail.

• Written by Randal Rust

Oregon Trail

As early as 1823, explorers and fur traders were already traveling on the minor paths that would eventually connect and form the Oregon Trail. By 1834, missionaries, military, and traders were frequently using the trail for their purposes. The Native Americans had lived in the area long before all of that. But it was only in 1843, when a caravan of animal-drawn wagons left Elm Grove, Missouri , for Oregon , that the Great Emigration to the West Coast began.

The Great Emigration of 1843

If the California Gold Rush called out to the gold diggers in later years, in 1843, the farmlands of Oregon beckoned the white American farmers. Suffering from a severe depression that was affecting the Midwest, many pioneers uprooted their families to find prosperity in the West. The Oregan Trail provided the passage that emigrants used to reach the Pacific Ocean in hopes of improving their lot in life.

The Oregon Trail was a 2,000-mile pathway that began in Independence, Missouri, and ended in Oregon City, Oregon. The caravan leaving in 1843 for the West Coast was made up of 120 wagons with almost 1,000 men, women, and children and thousands of oxen and cows. This event would later become known as the Great Emigration of 1843. Some of the pioneers on this caravan were a group of Latter-Day Saints heading for Utah. The entire journey to reach Oregon took five months to complete.

Challenges Along the Trail

The emigrants crossed the Great Plains with their prairie schooners. These wagons were light and made of hardwood with an oil canvas covering. Most of them were 6 feet wide and 12 feet long and extremely uncomfortable. The pioneers loaded their food, water, and belongings on these wagons, and many preferred to walk by its side instead of sitting in it.

They followed the Platte River for over 600 miles before they reached Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Many times, the river was too swollen from the heavy rains, making it impossible to cross, especially with the wagons. If they made it to the Rocky Mountains , they had to face thunderstorms, excessive heat during the day, and bitter cold at night. There were also other dangers on the journey. Rampant diseases such as cholera, flu, and dysentery killed many emigrants. Accidental shootings, starvation, resistance from Native Americans, and drownings were also a major problem.

But if they arrived at Independence Rock in Wyoming by July 4, they knew they were halfway home. Many emigrants left their signatures on the massive granite rock, and their markings can still be seen today. It became known as the “Great Register of the Desert.”

The next big hurdle for the emigrants to overcome was the Rocky Mountains to the South Pass. Next came the steep and dangerous climb over the Blue Mountains. If they made it through that, they were almost in the clear. The final stretch of the journey was to follow the Columbia River all the way until they arrived in Oregon City.

The Legacy of the Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail provided an estimated of 300,000 settlers with a way to move to the West Coast. It continued to be a workable pathway until 1888 for cattle drives. However, the railroads had already arrived and made transcontinental transportation easier for people. Before the turn of the century, the Oregon Trail had ceased to exist as the trains took over.

Today, the National Park and Service offers educational information about the Oregon Trail to the public. The Oregon National Historic Trail follows much of the same path as the original trail, and you can still see the wagon ruts on many parts of it. You can travel and view the trail either by car or even a wagon!

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Traveling the emigrant trails.

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A New Beginning

The oregon route.

A Typical Day

• Around 4 am the wagon leader sounded the trumpet or fired a rifle to wake everyone up.
• By 5 am breakfast was prepared, while the animals were rounded up after a night of grazing.
• By 6 am the men and boys hitched the wagons while everyone else ate breakfast.
• At 7 am the bugle sounded, the wagonmaster shouted "Wagons roll!", and the emigrants started off for the day.
• There was an hour lunch break, referred to as "nooning".
• At around 6 pm the wagons were circled. Circling the wagons wasn't for protection against the Indians as much as it was to provide a corral for livestock, and security from cattle thieves, wild animals, and weather. Immediately, campfires were started and dinner was cooked.

Wagon Teams: Oxen vs. Mules

Left image Mules Credit: NPS

Right image Oxen Credit: NPS

Mule teams were the preferred mode of travel, but oxen teams were used more often. Which would you prefer?

Leisure Time

Food on the trail, trail's end.

Part of a series of articles titled The Emigrant Experience .

Next: Wagons on the Emigrant Trails

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9 Things You May Not Know About the Oregon Trail

By: Evan Andrews

Updated: August 3, 2023 | Original: November 13, 2015

For American settlers heading westward in the 19th century, the Oregon Trail offered the primary route. A rugged path marked only by the parallel wheel ruts dug by thousands of covered wagons, it led across nearly 2,200 miles of prairie, desert and mountain terrain from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon. After explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark mapped the uncharted land in 1804-06, merchants, trappers, miners, traders and missionaries soon followed, looking for land, resources and opportunity. By mid-century, wagon traffic on the route expanded to tens of thousands annually. Here are nine surprising facts about the Oregon Trail:

1. The Oregon Trail didn’t follow a single set path.

While most Oregon-bound emigrants traveled a route that passed by landmarks in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon, there was never just one set of wagon ruts leading west. Pioneers often spread out for several miles across the plains to hunt, find grazing patches for their animals and avoid the choking dust clouds kicked up by other wagon trains. As the years passed, enterprising settlers also blazed dozens of new trails, or cutoffs, that allowed travelers to bypass stopping points and reach their destination quicker. These shortcuts were especially popular in Wyoming, where the network of alternative pathways meandered more than a hundred miles north and south.

2. A pair of Protestant missionaries made one of the trail’s first wagon crossings.

Frontier explorers and fur trappers blazed the rough outlines of the Oregon Trail in the early 19th century, but the route was initially considered too demanding for women, children or covered wagons to navigate. That changed in 1836, when newlywed missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman took a small party of wagons from St. Louis to the Walla Walla Valley to minister to Cayuse Indians. 28-year-old Narcissa became the first white woman to traverse the Rocky Mountains, and her colorful letters home were later published in Eastern newspapers, convincing many would-be pioneers that it was possible for their families to survive the journey west. Still, it wasn’t until 1843 that the pioneer dam finally burst. That year, Marcus helped lead the first major wagon train of around 1,000 settlers along the Oregon Trail, an exodus now known as the “Great Migration.” Traffic soon skyrocketed, and by the late-1840s and early 1850s, upwards of 50,000 people were using the trail each year.

3. The iconic Conestoga wagon was rarely used on the Oregon Trail.

Popular depictions of the Oregon Trail often include trains of boat-shaped Conestoga wagons bouncing along the prairie. But while the Conestoga was an indispensable part of trade and travel in the East, it was far too large and unwieldy to survive the rugged terrain of the frontier. Most pioneers instead tackled the trail in more diminutive wagons that become known as “prairie schooners” for the way their canvas covers resembled a ship’s sail. These vehicles typically included a wooden bed about four feet wide and ten feet long. When pulled by teams of oxen or mules, they could creak their way toward Oregon Country at a pace of around 15 to 20 miles a day. They could even be caulked with tar and floated across un-fordable rivers and streams. Prairie schooners were capable of carrying over a ton of cargo and passengers, but their small beds and lack of a suspension made for a notoriously bumpy ride. With this in mind, settlers typically preferred to ride horses or walk alongside their wagons on foot.

4. The trail was littered with discarded supplies.

As traffic on the Oregon Trail increased, a bustling industry of frontier trading posts sprang up to supply food and equipment for the five-month haul. In popular jumping-off points like Independence, Missouri, unscrupulous merchants made a killing by conning frightened pioneer families into buying more provisions than they actually needed. The overloading meant that many sections of trail became junk heaps filled with discarded food barrels and wagon parts. Broken down prairie schooners and dead draft animals also littered the roads, and it wasn’t unusual to see personal items like books, clothes and even furniture. Fort Laramie in Wyoming eventually became known as “Camp Sacrifice” for its reputation as an Oregon Trail dumping ground. During the Gold Rush of 1849, pioneers reportedly abandoned a whopping 20,000 pounds of bacon outside its walls.

5. Indian attacks were relatively rare on the Oregon Trail.

Contrary to the depictions of dime novels and Hollywood Westerns, attacks by the Plains Indians were not the greatest hazard faced by westbound settlers. While pioneer trains did circle their wagons at night, it was mostly to keep their draft animals from wandering off, not protect against an ambush. Indians were more likely to be allies and trading partners than adversaries, and many early wagon trains made use of Pawnee and Shoshone trail guides. Hostile encounters increased in the years after the beginning of the Civil War, but statistics show only around 400 settlers were killed by natives between 1840 and 1860. The more pressing threats were cholera and other diseases, which were responsible for the vast majority of the estimated 20,000 deaths that occurred along the Oregon Trail.

6. Pioneers left behind graffiti on 'register rocks' along the trail.

Along with painting messages and mottos on their wagon canvasses, pioneers also developed a tradition of carving their names, hometowns and dates of passage on some of the stone landmarks they encountered during their journey west. One of the most notable prairie guest books was Independence Rock, a 128-foot-tall granite outcropping in Wyoming dubbed “The Register of the Desert.” Thousands of travelers left their mark on the rock while camping along the nearby Sweetwater River. Those in a hurry sometimes even paid stonecutters a few dollars to carve their messages for them. In addition to Independence Rock, pioneers also left behind signatures on Register Cliff and Names Hill, two other sites in Wyoming.

7. Most Oregon Trail pioneers didn’t settle in Oregon.

Only around 80,000 of the estimated 400,000 Oregon Trail emigrants actually ended their journey in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Of the rest, the vast majority splintered off from the main route in either Wyoming or Idaho and took separate trails leading to California and Utah. The California Trail was eventually traveled by some 250,000 settlers, most of them prospectors seeking to strike it rich in the gold fields. The Utah route, meanwhile, shuttled roughly 70,000 Mormon pilgrims to the lands surrounding Salt Lake City.

8. One of the trail’s most famous pioneers made the crossing by wagon, train, automobile and airplane.

One trip on the Oregon Trail was more than enough for most pioneers, but Ohio native Ezra Meeker eventually made the trek a half-dozen times using nearly every available means of conveyance. The unusual odyssey began in 1906, when the 76-year-old jumped behind the reins of a covered wagon and retraced the steps of his original pioneer journey from 54 years before. Meeker was concerned that the legacy of the Oregon Trail was being forgotten, so he made frequent stops to give lectures on its history and install homemade “Meeker Markers” at pioneer landmarks. The trip made him a national celebrity. Crowds gathered to mark his arrival in major cities, and he eventually piloted his wagon all the way to Washington, D.C. for a meeting with President Theodore Roosevelt. Meeker went on to journey the Oregon Trail several more times by wagon, train and automobile. His final crossing came at age 94, when he made the trip in a biplane flown by famed pilot Oakley Kelly.

9. Wheel ruts from Oregon Trail wagons are still visible today.

By the time the last wagon trains crossed in the 1880s, mass migration on the Oregon Trail had left an indelible mark on the American frontier. Decades of prairie schooner traffic carved up certain sections of the trail, leaving imprints in stone and wearing down grasslands so much that nothing grows on them to this day. These pioneer wagon ruts can still be seen in all six of the states that once encompassed the trail.

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First Emigrants Travel The Oregon Trail

In the early 1800s, America was expanding westward and the Oregon Trail was the quickest way to get there. The trail was first used by fur traders and missionaries, but by the 1840s, it was being used by settlers looking to establish new lives in the west.

The journey along the Oregon Trail was long and arduous, and many people died along the way. But for those who made it to their destination, the rewards were great. The Oregon Territory was a vast and beautiful land, and it was home to a wealth of natural resources.

The Oregon Trail was eventually replaced by railroads, but it remains an important part of American history. Today, there are many museums and historical sites along the trail, and they offer a fascinating glimpse into America’s past.

• 1 When did the first emigrants travel the Oregon Trail?
• 2 How did the first emigrants get to Oregon?
• 3 Who were some of the first people to travel to Oregon?
• 4 Who traveled the Oregon Trail first?
• 5 Who was the first person to go on the Oregon Trail?
• 6 Where did the Oregon Trail take emigrants?
• 7 Why did emigrants take the Oregon Trail?

When did the first emigrants travel the Oregon Trail?

The Oregon Trail is a historic route that covers over 2,000 miles between Missouri and Oregon. It was used by thousands of emigrants between 1841 and 1869 as they made their way to the Western United States.

The first recorded use of the Oregon Trail was by a group of fur traders in 1811. However, it wasn’t until 1841 that a large group of emigrants used the trail to travel to Oregon. This group, known as the Donner Party, became stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains and many of them died.

The Oregon Trail was gradually improved and made safer over the years, and by the 1860s it had become the primary route to the Western United States. In 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed, making the Oregon Trail obsolete.

How did the first emigrants get to Oregon?

In 1843, a group of American settlers known as the Oregon Trail pioneers became some of the first people to ever cross the North American continent and settle in the Oregon Territory. This was a huge undertaking, and it’s no wonder that many people are curious about how these brave individuals managed to make the journey.

The Oregon Trail was not a single route, but rather a series of trails that stretched from Missouri to Oregon. These trails were used by American fur traders and missionaries in the early 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1840s that they were popularized as a route for settlers heading to the Oregon Territory.

The journey to Oregon was not easy – it took several months, and involved crossing rugged and inhospitable terrain. The first leg of the journey was from Missouri to the Rockies, where the settlers had to cross the treacherous Rocky Mountains. Then, they had to journey through the barren deserts of Nevada and Oregon before finally reaching their destination.

There were several key factors that made the Oregon Trail possible. First, the invention of the wagon wheel in the early 1800s made it possible for settlers to transport their belongings across long distances. Additionally, the development of the steamboat in the 1820s made it possible for settlers to travel up the Missouri River and into the Rockies.

Ultimately, the Oregon Trail was an incredible feat – it was an ambitious journey that involved crossing a vast and unforgiving continent. But it was also a testament to the pioneering spirit of the American people, and it’s a journey that will always be remembered by those who made it.

Who were some of the first people to travel to Oregon?

Oregon is a beautiful and diverse state that attracts many visitors every year. The state is known for its lush forests, mountains, and coastline. Oregon is also home to a number of interesting and historical sites, which draw tourists from all over the world.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Oregon is the city of Portland. Portland is the largest city in the state and is known for its unique culture and architecture. The city is also home to a number of museums and historical sites, including the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Portland Art Museum.

Another popular tourist destination in Oregon is the Willamette Valley. The Willamette Valley is a beautiful valley located in the central part of the state. The valley is known for its vineyards and wineries, as well as its picturesque landscape. The Willamette Valley is also home to a number of historic sites, including the Oregon State Capitol and the Champoeg State Heritage Area.

The first people to travel to Oregon were the Native Americans. The Native Americans were the first people to discover and explore the state. The Native Americans were also the first people to establish settlements in Oregon.

The first European to travel to Oregon was Alexander Mackenzie. Mackenzie was a Scottish explorer who traveled to Oregon in 1793. Mackenzie was the first European to cross the continent of North America.

The first American to travel to Oregon was Meriwether Lewis. Lewis was a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Lewis and Clark were the first Americans to travel to the Pacific Northwest.

The first Europeans to establish settlements in Oregon were the French. The French were the first Europeans to explore and colonize the state. The French were also the first Europeans to establish settlements in the Willamette Valley.

The first American to establish a permanent settlement in Oregon was John McLoughlin. McLoughlin was the founder of the Oregon Country. McLoughlin was also the first American to establish a settlement in the Willamette Valley.

The first European to explore the Columbia River was Robert Gray. Gray was an American merchant who traveled to the Pacific Northwest in 1792. Gray was the first European to sail up the Columbia River.

The first European to travel down the Columbia River was George Vancouver. Vancouver was a British naval officer who traveled to the Pacific Northwest in 1792. Vancouver was the first European to travel down the Columbia River.

The first European to cross the Rocky Mountains was Lewis and Clark. Lewis and Clark were the first Americans to cross the Rocky Mountains. Lewis and Clark were also the first Europeans to explore the Pacific Northwest.

The first European to travel to Oregon by land was Jedediah Smith. Smith was an American fur trader who traveled to Oregon in 1826. Smith was the first European to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The first European to travel to Oregon by sea was James Cook. Cook was a British naval officer who traveled to the Pacific Northwest in 1778. Cook was the first European to travel to Oregon by sea.

Who traveled the Oregon Trail first?

The Oregon Trail was a 19th century wagon route that connected the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest. It was used by many groups of settlers, including the Oregon Trail Association. But who traveled the Oregon Trail first?

The Oregon Trail was actually first used by Native Americans, who traveled between the Pacific Northwest and the Great Plains. The first European to travel the trail was John Charles Frémont, who led a expedition in 1843.

The Oregon Trail was popularized by the Oregon Trail Association, a group of settlers who traveled to the Oregon Territory in 1843. The association was formed by John McLoughlin, the founder of Fort Vancouver.

The Oregon Trail was used by many groups of settlers, including the Mormons, who traveled to the Great Salt Lake in 1847. The trail was also used by the California Gold Rush settlers in 1849.

The Oregon Trail was an important route for settling the West Coast. It allowed many groups of settlers to travel to the Pacific Northwest and the Great Plains.

Who was the first person to go on the Oregon Trail?

The Oregon Trail was a wagon route that stretched from Missouri to Oregon and was used by many American settlers in the 1840s. The first person to travel the entire trail was a man named Ezra Meeker, who undertook the journey in 1852. Meeker was born in Ohio in 1831 and moved to Oregon with his family in 1852. He later wrote a book about his experiences on the Oregon Trail.

Where did the Oregon Trail take emigrants?

The Oregon Trail was a 19th century wagon route that connected the Missouri River to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The trail was used by thousands of emigrants to travel westward, and it played a significant role in the development of the American West.

The Oregon Trail took emigrants through a variety of different landscapes, including rolling prairies, dense forests, and barren deserts. The trail was not easy to travel, and it claimed the lives of many emigrants.

The Oregon Trail began in Independence, Missouri, and ended in Oregon City, Oregon. It passed through a number of different states, including Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho.

The Oregon Trail was an important part of American history, and it helped to open up the West to settlers. Thanks to the Oregon Trail, many people were able to settle in Oregon and establish new lives in the West.

Why did emigrants take the Oregon Trail?

The Oregon Trail was a route used by American emigrants to travel from Missouri to Oregon. The trail was about 2,000 miles long, and it passed through the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains.

So why did emigrants take the Oregon Trail? There were a number of factors that influenced their decision. Some people were attracted by the promise of free land in Oregon. Others were looking for a new start away from the problems of the East Coast. The Oregon Trail was also a relatively safe route, compared to other options such as traveling by sea.

The trail was first used in the early 1840s, and it continued to be used until the late 1860s. Over the years, more than 250,000 people traveled the Oregon Trail.

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