1. James Mason Diary INDEPENDENCE MISSOURI April 23, 1850

2. Diary of James Mason From Lexington, MO – Up the Missouri River - Passed Independence, MO April 23 – G.L. McLane passed in morning passed Independence land in evening Licking Co Co had a row among themselves

3. Diary of James Mason California Oregon Trail from Independence, MO - to Hangtown (Placerville, CA) Independence Placerville

4. Imagine what it would have been like to be a pioneer in America in the mid-1800s and working your way westward in a covered wagon. Missouri was where the trails began and Independence became known as “The Queen City of The Trails”, because all of the trails west could be accessed from there. Covered wagons carried mainly tools, food, and supplies. If a wagon was too heavily loaded, the oxen, or mules could not handle the load when it came to the steep pulls. It was said that you didn’t have to venture far out of Independence to find the trail strewn with items that had been left behind to lighten the load. Once the pioneers crossed the Missouri River, they left civilization behind them and began their journey on what became known as The Oregon Trail. Independence Missouri Missouri, Where The Trails Began

5. Independence Missouri Missouri, Where The Trails Began

6. Independence Missouri

8. Court House 1800’s

9. Independence Missouri Downtown 1850’s

10. Independence Missouri Missouri - California/Oregon Trail Life

11. Independence Missouri Cattle often use to pull wagons

12. END James Mason Diary INDEPENDENCE MISSOURI April 23, 1850