Highlights of the Oregon Trail

Independence, Missouri This city was the “jumping off” point of the Oregon Trail. It was in this city that people would purchase wagons and supplies for their journey west, meet up with others and join wagon trains, and hire former Mountain Men who could be their guides.

The Oregon Trail The Pioneers’ journey using covered wagons was more than 2,000 miles long, and would lead them into new and unfamiliar territory. Along the way they dealt with bear attacks, hostile Native Americans, snake bites, disease, river crossings, mountains to climb, frustration and death!

Adjusting to the Trail During the first part of the journey the pioneers had to get used to the routine and work of travel. They learned to hitch and unhitch their livestock, to keep wagons in good running order, and to make sure the animals got the water and food they needed to survive. They learned to get along with their fellow pioneers, to agree on rules they would all follow on the trip, and to set up and break camp every night and morning.

A Lasting Impression The pioneers made a lasting impression on the western landscape. As a matter of fact, you can still see the ruts that their wagon wheels made on the Oregon Trail today!

Highlight # 1: The Great Plains The first portion of the Oregon Trail stretched across several hundred miles of lush grasses. Pioneers were thrilled to see this new territory, but they didn’t want to live there! The Great Plains features beautiful, mostly flat grasslands, but there were no trees or bushes on the landscape. For this reason, the pioneers called this area “The Great American Desert.”

Close-Up: Buffalo More than 15 million buffalo roamed the Great Plains in the early 1800s. The pioneers learned to hunt the buffalo, and used their hides to make shoes, tents, and other garments. With no trees or bushes to burn for campfires, pioneers learned to collect dried buffalo chips (dung) to use as fuel for their fires. Pioneer kids also threw the buffalo chips like Frisbees!

Highlight # 2: Chimney Rock About 650 miles west of Independence, Missouri, a large, pyramid-shaped reddish rock appears in the distance. Its spire is 100 feet high, and can be seen from 50 miles away. When pioneers saw this, they knew they were on the Oregon Trail and heading in the right direction!

The pioneers also knew when they reached Chimney Rock that it meant the end of travel on the Great Plains, and the beginning of the rugged mountain portion of their journey! Chimney Rock is featured prominently on Nebraska’s state quarter!

Highlight # 3: Fort Laramie Fort Laramie is located on the North Platte River in Wyoming, and it was the first trading post that the pioneers reached on the Oregon Trail. When travelers got to Fort Laramie, they knew that they were one-third of the way to Oregon!

Close-Up: Important Forts Fort Bridger, Fort Hall, Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie were used by more than 350,000 travelers between 1841 and They provided places for the pioneers to rest, repair their wagons, mail letters back home, and stock up on provisions they would need to finish their journeys.

Highlight # 4: Independence Rock Along the Oregon Trail there is a large, 130- foot dome-shaped granite rock located in Wyoming. If the pioneers left Independence, Missouri, in early spring, they would usually reach this rock by the Fourth of July. That’s why it’s called “Independence Rock!”

Close-Up: Independence Rock More than 5,000 pioneers climbed the rock and scratched their names into it. Since so many people did this, Independence Rock has been called “The Great Register of the Oregon Trail!”

Other Names on Independence Rock Mountain Man Jim Bridger carved his name in the rock, too!

Highlight # 5: Soda Springs Natural bubbling pools of carbonated water, caused by ancient volcanic activity, made Soda Springs, an exciting attraction for the pioneers. Emigrants used the water for medicinal and bathing purposes, mostly. Some mixed citrus acid in the water and drank it, saying it tasted like lemonade! When water exploded from geysers it whistled like a steamboat, so some people called this area “Steamboat Springs.”

Highlight # 6: South Pass Discovered in 1812 by Scottish fur trader Robert Stuart, this pathway provided pioneers with a gradual ascent through the Rocky Mountains that was much less challenging than other routes. The South Pass was forgotten for years until it was rediscovered by Jedediah Smith in 1824.

The Continental Divide Near the Continental Divide water and grass for livestock became more scarce. The drier air caused wooden wheels to shrink, and the iron tires that held the wheels together loosened, or rolled off. Buffalo herds, on which the pioneers depended for fresh meat, became increasingly hard to find. The last third of the journey was the toughest!

Highlight # 7: The Whitman Mission Marcus and Narcissa Whitman Founded in 1836 by Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife, Narcissa, who were both missionaries. Their goal was to convert the Cayuse Indians tribe to Christianity. At the same time, the Whitmans gave care and supplies to wagon parties travelling along the Oregon Trail. For the pioneers, the Whitman Mission might be their last stop before reaching Oregon!

Highlight #8: The Willamette Valley After crossing the Blue Mountains and floating down the Columbia River, the pioneers finally got their first glimpse of the lovely Willamette Valley! Now it was time to make land claims, clear trees, build a house, and plant their crops. They were home! Oregon’s Population: 1850: 12, : 52,495