Page 448 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

446  THE GREA T PLAINS

The Oregon Trail

Founded by trader William Sublette in 1830, this formidable 2,000-mile (3,200-km) trail
was the main wagon route between Independence, Missouri (see p453) in the east and
Oregon to the west. The original route curved northwest after crossing the Missouri River
near present-day Kansas City, passing through northeastern Kansas and southeastern
Nebraska on the way to the Platte River. Between 1841 and 1866, a staggering 500,000
settlers bound for the fertile farmlands of Oregon and the goldfields of northern
California passed through Nebraska, following the northern banks of the Platte, past
a string of army forts to Ogallala. As the trail veered northwest, away from the flat
landscape of the Platte River Valley and up into the craggy Panhandle plateau along
the North Platte River, pioneers were awestruck by the massive rock formations that
signaled the Rockies to the west.

OREGON
NEBRASKA

Locator Map
The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail In Nebraska
More than 428 miles (689 km) of the original Oregon Trail
passed through the flat grasslands of Nebraska before it turned
northwestward. Today, most of the old routes are easily accessible, Chimney Rock, east of the
with historic markers guiding travelers on I-80, along the Platte town of Scottsbluff, rises 500 ft
River, or Route 92 and US 26, which follows the trail’s north- (152 m) above the mixed-grass
western ascent of the North Platte. This undated illustration by plains. This was one of the
William H. Jackson depicts the first covered wagon caravan, more frequently noted sights
led by Smith-Jackson-Sublette, consisting of ten wagons drawn found in travelers’ diaries
by five mules each, heading for Wind River Valley near present- and sketchbooks.
day Lander in Wyoming.

Scotts Bluff National
Monument has a well-
staffed visitor center,
which runs various
interpretive and living
history programs. These
include an excellent
overview of the Oregon
Trail history, as well as
exhibits on the Mormon
Trail. Visitors can hike to
the summit of the 800-ft
(244-m) sandstone
outcropping and walk
along still-visible
Oregon Trail ruts.

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp460–62 and pp463–5

446-447_EW_USA.indd 446 11/2/16 2:47 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm