The Oregon Trail
Introduction
This was possibly the most prominent trail of the three mentioned on this site. The Oregon Trail was in operation for almost eight decades throughout the nineteenth century. What once began as a series of disconnected trails that were created by early Native Americans. Later on these were extended by fur traders and pioneers who began the westward move towards California and the gold that it promised.
The Walker Family
Joel Walker and his family were the first people credited with traveling the complete course of the Oregon Trail. They arrived at their destination in early 1840. A few years later giving birth to their daughter, Louise Walker, one of the first people to be born in the soon to be state.
Life on the Trail
People traveling on the trails were usually a part of large wagon groups called caravans. Each wagon housed a single family, which could have up to several children. An average family of four required over a thousand pounds of food to survive the dire circumstances along the trail. The wagons were drawn by oxen and covered by water proof canvases. Often people got sick along the trail. These people were left behind and possibly left to die. Needless to say the Oregon Trail was remorseless. Only the strongest survived.
References: http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/history-basics.php
http://www.pacificnorthwestjourneys.org/year2/supplements/socialstudies.cfm?chid=14
This was possibly the most prominent trail of the three mentioned on this site. The Oregon Trail was in operation for almost eight decades throughout the nineteenth century. What once began as a series of disconnected trails that were created by early Native Americans. Later on these were extended by fur traders and pioneers who began the westward move towards California and the gold that it promised.
The Walker Family
Joel Walker and his family were the first people credited with traveling the complete course of the Oregon Trail. They arrived at their destination in early 1840. A few years later giving birth to their daughter, Louise Walker, one of the first people to be born in the soon to be state.
Life on the Trail
People traveling on the trails were usually a part of large wagon groups called caravans. Each wagon housed a single family, which could have up to several children. An average family of four required over a thousand pounds of food to survive the dire circumstances along the trail. The wagons were drawn by oxen and covered by water proof canvases. Often people got sick along the trail. These people were left behind and possibly left to die. Needless to say the Oregon Trail was remorseless. Only the strongest survived.
References: http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/history-basics.php
http://www.pacificnorthwestjourneys.org/year2/supplements/socialstudies.cfm?chid=14