The Oregon Trail

Multimedia Tutorial by Matt Bolton

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The Oregon Trail was much more than just a route leading west to the present-day state of Oregon. The trail was the only passable route headed west over the mountains of what is now the western states of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah. These states might not be part of the United States were it not for the settlers traveling west along The Oregon Trail.

The trail began in Independence, Missouri, and ended some 2,000 miles away in Oregon City, near the present-day city of Portland.

Please continue reading to learn more about the Oregon Trail. My multimedia tutorial will compare and contrast the setters’ journey along the trail with trips I have taken with friends and family. This tutorial will examine: the reason the settlers decided to head west; the types of vehicles the settlers traveled west in; what supplies they took on their journey; hardships, illnesses, and other problems they encountered along the way; and, what life was like for the settlers traveling along the trail.

Introduction

Reasons for Heading West

Large numbers of settlers traveled The Oregon Trail beginning in 1843. Some of the settlers traveled west along the Oregon Trail headed to what is now known as California in search of gold.

Gold, which is very valuable, was first discovered in California in 1849. The discovery of gold in California caused a large number of people to travel west in search of this valuable and precious metal. Most of these “Forty-Niners” never found gold. They came because of stories they had heard of people finding gold and becoming rich. Only a few lucky people, however, actually made a fortune from finding gold.

My Family Vacations

When my family takes a vacation, it is not to find gold or some other treasure, which is why many settlers headed west. My family goes on vacation to enjoy each other’s company and to have fun. We have been to California, just like those early settlers, but our goal was to go to Disneyland, not find gold!

Searching for Gold

Reasons for Heading West

Mild Weather and Favorable Climate

During the 1840s and 1850s, Americans read newspaper articles about the land in Oregon. According to these newspaper articles, this wonderful place was supposed to have mild weather and rich soil perfect for growing crops. Stories of huge crop harvests caused people to develop “Oregon Fever,” a strong desire to move out west.

Some people hoped to find cheap, fertile land, while others hoped to make money in the logging business. There were lots of trees in Oregon, and they were in great demand back east.

Educational Trips

My family has taken many vacations, but we have never gone out of town in search of fertile land or timber. Besides taking vacations for fun, we have also taken educational trips. We have been to Washington, D.C. to tour the nation’s capital, monuments, and museums. We have also been to Williamsburg, VA to tour historical sites from colonial times.

Vehicles Used to Travel The Oregon Trail

Covered Wagons

Most settlers migrating west along the Oregon Trail travelled in covered wagons. A successful journey out west depended a great deal on the type of wagon used to travel the Oregon Trail. Settlers needed wagons strong enough to hold both people and supplies for the five months or so it took to travel the entire length of the trail.

To outlast the rugged terrain and to last the entire five months, the best choice was to have a wagon made of seasoned hardwood. Most settlers used a typical farm wagon with a canvas cover stretched over hoop shaped frames. A single wagon could hold a family of four and all of their supplies.

Our Mode of Transportation

I think it would be fun to travel in a wagon, but my family has never been on a trip in one. Usually we drive where we are going, especially to the beach. Mom and dad take turns driving our SUV. My sister and I play games, take naps, read books, and watch movies during the trip.

Vehicles Used to Travel The Oregon Trail

Handcarts

Handcarts were another type of vehicle settlers traveled in during their journey along The Oregon Trail. The handcarts were made of wood, and had tires made of rawhide or light metal. These handcarts came in three sizes and weighed 60 pounds. They were often poorly constructed and needed to be repaired quite frequently. These were not pulled by animals, however. The settlers themselves had to pull the handcart across The Oregon Trail.

Airplane Travels

When my family takes a trip to a faraway place, we travel by airplane. We have flown many times. My sister is a little bit scared to fly, but I am not scared! I love to sit by the window and look out at the clouds and the places below that look very little!

Supplies Taken on the Journey

Supplies for the Journey

Typical supplies taken by travelers along the Oregon Trail were not expensive. A typical journey meant taking along one or two small, sturdy farm wagons, six to ten head of oxen, and one or two milk cows. Travelers also had to take all the necessary food, clothing, medicine, and utensils needed for survival. Heavy items, such as furniture, stove, or pianos (if they owned these things) that they would need once they arrived out west were typically shipped on freight ships to the west coast. If by some chance the travelers did pack any of these heavy items in the wagon, they would often leave them on the trail along the way.

Travel Necessities

When my family goes out of town, we take all of our clothes, medicine we may need, money, games for the car ride, and things such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies if we are going to be staying in a hotel or condominium. We did not have to pack everything we owned, and the food we took, if we took anything, was usually just snacks. We usually stop to eat at restaurants.

Supplies Taken on the Journey

Food for a Long Voyage

In order to survive the long journey westward, a family of four would typically need to take along 600 pounds of flour, 120 pounds of biscuits, 400 pounds of bacon, 60 pounds of coffee, 4 pounds of tea, 100 pounds of sugar, and 200 pounds of lard. And these were just the basic staples.

More Food to Bring Along

In addition to these basic staples, travelers also often took along sacks of beans and rice, dried peaches and apples, bacon stored in large barrels filled with bran (so the fat would not melt), a good hunting knife, and farm equipment such as a plow, shovel, rake, and hoe. Also, they would often bring along seeds for planting crops.

Snacks for the Road

Thankfully my family does not have to take all of that food on our trip. We might pack drinks and crackers or other snacks. We also did not have to bring all of that equipment. When we go to the beach, we bring supplies like sunscreen, beach towels, flip flops, and bathing suits.

Problems, Hardships, and Illnesses Encountered During the Journey

Diseases Contracted by Travelers

There were many hardships and problems people traveling west along the Oregon Trail had to deal with. Settlers traveling west also had to deal with illnesses. Many settlers came down with dysentery during their journey, which is diarrhea with blood. Another disease that many travelers along the trail came down with was cholera. Many others contracted measles. When an illness hit, it slowed down the journey since everyone in the wagon had to wait until the sick person got better before continuing their journey.

Motion Sickness

Just like the settlers traveling west sometimes got sick during their journey, I have also gotten sick while traveling. I sometimes get car sick. One time we went on a cruise in The Bahamas and I got motion sickness. When someone in our family gets sick, however, we always get better in a few days.

Problems, Hardships, and Illnesses Encountered During the Journey

Other Hardships

Other hardships faced by travelers headed west along The Oregon Trail included accidents, supply shortages, bad weather, drowning, and traveling over rough terrain. Another challenge faced by many travelers was running out of money before they reached their destination. The death of a loved one or family member was also something that many settlers had to deal with.

Relations With the Indians

Another problem faced by travelers along the trail was the threat of Indian attacks, although this problem was not nearly as common as the other problems settlers faced on their journey. Contrary to popular myth, however, most encounters between the settlers and the Indians were peaceful. Often, bandits attacked the travelers, stealing their supplies, animals, or money.

Fill Up the Gas Tank

While my family has never run out of money, caught a disease, or suffered a death during our travels, we did run our of gas one time on the way back from Florida. We have also gotten lost and one time we had a flat tire in our van.

Life Along the Trail

Typical Day Traveling the Oregon Trail

During the journey along The Oregon Trail, routines were established and followed by the settlers. A typical day in the life of a settler traveling along The Oregon Trail began with a bugler blowing a trumpet or a guard at one of the sleep camps firing a gun to wake up the travelers. Once awake, the cattle and other animals had to be rounded up. Next, the women and children fixed breakfast, which was usually bacon and corn porridge. After breakfast, the women washed dishes while the men hauled down the tents and loaded them in the wagons. After every family had gathered their teams and hitched the animals to the wagons, the trumpeter signaled a “Wagon Ho” and they start their journey once again. On the journey, the men usually rode ahead on horseback with shovels to clear a path if needed. Around noon, everyone stopped for the people and animals to eat, drink water, and rest. Soon after they were back on their way. Early evening meant stopping at a new campsite and setting up camp for the evening. Wagons are formed into a corral at this time. Next, they unpacked and the women and children fixed supper. After dinner, mothers did chores, men smoked and talked, and young people danced.

A Good Night’s Sleep

When my family goes out of town, we do not have to search for a safe place to sleep or set up camp. We usually sleep in a motel, unless we are camping. We are awakened by alarm clocks, and not by the sound of a trumpeter. When we stop to rest we do so at a rest area. We also eat lunch in a restaurant.

Conclusion

Traveling along the Oregon Trail was no easy task for settlers headed west in search of gold, fertile farm land, or timber. Those people travelling the trail in search of new opportunities had to deal with the threat of diseases, running out of supplies, broken down equipment, deaths, the threat of bandit and Indian attacks, and the harsh weather conditions that often occurred.

These settlers usually travelled in groups and set up camp once it was time to stop their journey for the day. Women and children cooked and cleaned up while the men were responsible for rounding up the animals and making sure all of the supplies were packed on the wagon when it was time to hit the trail again.

In order to survive the five month journey, settlers had to make sure they brought along enough food for the entire trip. They often brought along at least one milking cow for the journey.

Those who made it all the way were the first residents of the western states of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.