The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail was much more than a pathway to the state of Oregon; it was the only practical corridor to the entire western United States. The places we now know as Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho and Utah would not be a part of the United States today were it not for the Oregon Trail. That's because the Trail was the only feasible way for settlers to get through the mountains. The Oregon Trail …

…in search of farmland--many more split off for California in search of gold. The glory years of the Oregon Trail finally ended in 1869, when the transcontinental railroad was completed. Actual wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail still exist today in many parts of the American West; and many groups are working hard to preserve this national historic treasure. Merril Mattes said that "It was one of the top ten most important events in American history."