Slide 1:A Visual Tour of Sites and Landmarks on the Oregon Trail Part 1


Slide 2:You can see from the political map that women going west were effectively leaving the United States when they crossed out of Missouri. Other than a military or fur trader’s fort or two between Missouri and Oregon (until after the Civil War), there was very little law enforcement, shopping, medical aid, newspapers, or reliable maps after travelers entered the Great Plains. Political Map of future US in 1850 Map of Oregon Trail


Slide 3:The strategic locations shown on this map will be our stopping points on our tour.


Oregon Trail ruts today in eastern Nebraska(near the city of Lincoln; being preserved by Audubon Society as virgin prairie - never plowed) :Oregon Trail ruts today in eastern Nebraska(near the city of Lincoln; being preserved by Audubon Society as virgin prairie - never plowed)


Slide 5:Ft. Kearney (Nebraska), built 1847, was often the first place for trail travelers to stop and repair wagons, purchase limited supplies, and mail a letter. Most frontier forts consisted of a few buildings surrounding a parade ground with a small (20-50) garrison of men. As overland traffic increased after the 1849 California Gold Rush, amenities at forts improved and the number of troops increased also, at least until the Civil War began. Reproduction of an original adobe building at Fort Kearney 1850 sketch of Ft. Kearney by Margaret A. Frink


California Hill with trail ruts. Emigrants ascended this hill that divides the Platte River (after this point, the South Platte) from the North Platte drainage, and continued on high ground until descending via Windlass Hill into Ash Hollow and the North Platte River Valley. (Since Nebraska has remained farmland through the decades, the vistas we see today have changed little from what the Overland Trail travelers saw.) :California Hill with trail ruts. Emigrants ascended this hill that divides the Platte River (after this point, the South Platte) from the North Platte drainage, and continued on high ground until descending via Windlass Hill into Ash Hollow and the North Platte River Valley. (Since Nebraska has remained farmland through the decades, the vistas we see today have changed little from what the Overland Trail travelers saw.)


Slide 7:Windlass Hill. This steep slope brought the wagons back down to the North Platte River Valley. The ruts have eroded over the years, but the wagons’ paths can clearly be seen from the air. Wagons sometimes had to be lowered down by “windlass” or a rope attached to a crank, to prevent them from rolling down out of control, hence the name. Eroded ruts


Ash Hollow – favorite camping place for its good water and refreshing shade :Ash Hollow – favorite camping place for its good water and refreshing shade Emigrant E. B. Farnham: "This is the best looking place we have seen for some time. It is a cool shady looking place fragrant with different kinds of flowers of which rose and jasmine are the principle. Grape vines and currant bushes are plenteous."


Courthouse and Jail Rock (left) and Chimney Rock (right) were major landmarks in western Nebraska past Ash Hollow. Trail travelers watched them approach for days, then watched them recede in the distance. Many women mentioned these milestones in their journals. One study of diaries revealed that as many as 97% of emigrants mentioned Chimney Rock in their writings. :Courthouse and Jail Rock (left) and Chimney Rock (right) were major landmarks in western Nebraska past Ash Hollow. Trail travelers watched them approach for days, then watched them recede in the distance. Many women mentioned these milestones in their journals. One study of diaries revealed that as many as 97% of emigrants mentioned Chimney Rock in their writings.


Scott’s Bluff and Mitchell Pass. The trail passed to the left of the pointed rock; the space between the two rock ridges is Mitchell Pass (used after 1851) . Today, Scott’s Bluff is a National Historic Landmark preserving the ruts, with an interpretive center, hiking trails, and overlooks. :Scott’s Bluff and Mitchell Pass. The trail passed to the left of the pointed rock; the space between the two rock ridges is Mitchell Pass (used after 1851) . Today, Scott’s Bluff is a National Historic Landmark preserving the ruts, with an interpretive center, hiking trails, and overlooks. The highway goes almost overtop the trail, which runs just to the right of the pavement Ruts at Mitchell Pass


Register Cliff, Gurnsey, Wyo. Thousands left their name and date, sometimes their hometowns, on this cliff, as well as Independence Rock and just about any place they could carve with a knife or stone. Now preserved by State of Wyoming and most carvings protected by chain link fence. Walking trail gives access. :Register Cliff, Gurnsey, Wyo. Thousands left their name and date, sometimes their hometowns, on this cliff, as well as Independence Rock and just about any place they could carve with a knife or stone. Now preserved by State of Wyoming and most carvings protected by chain link fence. Walking trail gives access.


Trail Ruts at Gurnsey, Wyo :Trail Ruts at Gurnsey, Wyo