Oregon National Historic Trail

Emily Fisher

Hiram Young

Matilda and Elizabeth Sager

Robin and Polly Holmes

Tabitha Brown

As American settlers surged westward across the eastern woodlands and prairies in the early 19th century, they pushed American Indians out of their ancestral homes. The U.S. government resettled many of those displaced Eastern tribes —the Kickapoo, Delaware, Potawatomi, and others— in congressionally designated Indian Territory west of the Missouri River and south of the Platte. The resettled Eastern tribes were among the first Indians encountered by emigrants through Kansas.

African Americans were among the pioneers who crossed the trail to Oregon, some coming willingly as free men and women but others forced to travel as the property of slaveholders. Those who reached Oregon between the 1840s and 1860s probably numbered in the hundreds.

Interested in the Oregon and California Trails at Alcove Spring? Take a look at these interpretive exhibits and listen to their audio descriptions.

Amanda Gardener was born in Liberty, Missouri, in 1833 and became a wedding present to her owner’s daughter, Nancy Wilhite. When she was seven years old, she was given to Wilhite’s daughter, Lydia, who had recently married Anderson Deckard. Gardener left for Oregon with the Deckard Family in March 1853 and arrived there six months later. She married a blacksmith and lived in Albany, where she remained close to the Deckards throughout her life.

Download one of these booklets and begin your state by state trail adventure! The Auto Tour Route (ATR) guides provide an overview of local trail history while giving driving directions to suggested points of interest along the trail. There are auto tour route guides available for the trail across MO, KS, NE, CO, ID, WY, WA, & OR.

Learn about the National Historic Trails and earn junior ranger badges! These activities can be completed virtually or after visiting a site along the National Historic Trails. Booklets can be submitted either electronically or by mail. Take a look and start exploring the trails today!

Emigrants on the Oregon Trail were introduced to many new plants and animals as they made their journey west. With over 2,000 miles of trail, through countless habitats, there are a number of places where you can have a similar experience! The following places along the trail are noted for their birdwatching opportunities. When planning a visit, please make sure to check with the individual location about visitation hours and other details.

Amelia Jenks Bloomer, a suffragist and women's magazine editor from New York, kicked off a dress-reform movement in 1851 by appearing in public wearing puffy pantaloons under a short skirt. Although she was ridiculed for her attire, some young women happily adopted the practical and comfortable "bloomers" outfit for their trip west across the overland trails.