About a week ago, my parents and I headed over to Baker City, Oregon to visit the popular Oregon Trail Interpretative Center. This center high on a hill features exhibits, replica wagons, videos, and historic artifacts to give a deeper understanding of the incredible Westward migration of Americans during the 19 Century. It seeks to give visitors a better understanding of the experiences the pioneers faced as they crossed about 2,000 miles of wild and uncharted land.
Thousands of people left their homes and came west in the 1800's to find new beginnings, new adventures, to escape from poverty and war, and to seek land and gold. These annual migrations followed the Oregon Trail across the plains, through rivers, and over the Blue Mountains to fertile lands in Washington and Oregon. The Oregon Trail included stops in my home state of Idaho at Fort Hall and Fort Boise, and included a dangerous river crossing at Three Mile Island.
Upon first arriving, we saw a video called "West to Oregon," one of the best documentaries I've seen about Oregon Trail. Through reenactments and dairy readings, it discusses why people left, the route they followed, what landmarks they saw, what this journey was like, and more. It did a really good job of discussing the tragedies and hardships the pioneers faced, what they called "the elephant." We also spent time looking through the exhibits and the replica wagons.
The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center features educational activities, hiking trails and presentations. The best part, however, is actually being able to see a well-preserved part of the actual Oregon Trail! Although the original trail was about 2,000 miles, only about 300 miles still exist today. The Interpretive Center offers a great way to experience history, and being able to see part of the original trail is a definite plus!
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Following the Oregon Trail
8 Comments:
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LOL - the only thing I can think of when I hear references to "Oregon Trail" is the disturbing phrase: "you just died of dysentery"
ReplyDeleteAh, that takes me back to the early 90's. :-)
That's hilarious! LOL
ReplyDeleteKdawg68, you completely nailed it.
ReplyDeleteI remember how frustrating the second river was for me. For some reason I always drowned there.
Anywho, thanks for the post, Rebecca. It's quite humbling to think about what those people went through during that time period.
Dave,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments! Yes, it is very humbling! It makes me appreciate those who came West and settled the land I now live on.
Hi, Rebecca...the best part for me also would've been seeing the actual Trail...it would blow me away...or else make me cry!
ReplyDeleteYour post causes me to consider how easily I can beome discouraged with setbacks, at times, or hardships, but when you think about the kind of endurance our early pioneers must've had, in the face of real hardship! Wow.
Christina,
ReplyDeleteYes, the center's information and displays really give you an idea of how much hardships they faced. So many people died along the way. Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoyed your post...and I'm hoping to travel along the Oregon Trail someday in memory of my ancestors, 12 of whom made the journey.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Sounds like a great trip! I don't have any ancestors that made the trip, but would be neat.
ReplyDelete