Traveling the Oregon Trail can be a very personal voyage of discovery for some people. Following in the footsteps of a pioneering forefather can offer a vivid insight into a family's past. It is perhaps the most rewarding and practical way to trace a family history. Modern day descendants can experience this spirit of adventure in a very personal way while enjoying some of America's most breathtaking scenery and evocative history.
The heyday of the Oregon Trail was relatively short from 1834 until 1869, when the Union Pacific railroad eventually reached San Francisco. In these few years, many staging posts, forts and supply depots were constructed. There are still more than 100 monuments and historic sites from these days along its 2,000-mile route. There are many historic camping grounds, museums and state historic parks to visit including Fort Walla Walla Museum in Baker City, Oregon, which features 16 historic and replica buildings and the historic Rock Creek Station in Fairbury, Nebraska. It offers an inspiring visual treat for history lovers.
The entire length of the Oregon Trail can generally be covered by automobile. However, there are many off-road segments along the route that offer adventure for nature lovers. There are short hikes through the Blue Mountains of Oregon and at Fort Laramie and Devil's Gate in Wyoming. Horseback treks and 4x4 tours are also popular side excursions from the main journey at Independence Rock and at the Bear River Divide. Some of the most spectacular natural attractions in the United States can be found around a third of the way into the journey from east to west at Chimney Rock and Scott's Bluff.
If it wasn't for the Oregon Trail and the subsequent exodus of thousands of homesteaders to the Pacific Northwest, the United States may have looked very different. In the early 1800s, the whole region was a vast wilderness that was disputed between the United States and Britain. The rapid influx of thousands of Americans to these territories hastened the end of British rule in these parts. Modern day Americans from across the nation are inspired by the hardships endured along this route which also offer a compelling insight into the nation's social history.
