The Oregon Trail

To carry people's belongings during migration

To serve as homes for settlers

To transport gold and silver

To be used as shops along the trail

Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon

Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California

Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon

California Trail and Mormon Trail

Santa Fe Trail and Pony Express Trail

Lewis & Clark Trail and Appalachian Trail

Chisholm Trail and Butterfield Overland Trail

Oxen and mules

Horses and camels

Buffalo and donkeys

Dogs and goats

Hard tack

Fresh fruit

Cheese

Chocolate

Abraham Lincoln; up to 160 acres of public land

George Washington; free passage west

Thomas Jefferson; free food for pioneers

Ulysses S. Grant; free covered wagons

The trail was littered with items people cast off.

It took about five months for a wagon train to make the journey.

The first major migration happened in 1869.

Around 300 miles of the trail have been preserved.

To migrate to the western part of the United States

To trade goods with Native Americans

To explore new territories for fun

To hunt wild animals