Oregon Trail KANSAS TRAILS KANSAS TRAILS. 6 Print this fact booklet off our website

Transcription

1 Oregon Trail Used for 42 years from 1827 to 1869, peaking in the 1840s. People stopped using the trail in 1869 with construction of the transcontinental railroad. Started in Independence, MO, ended in the Columbia River area of Oregon. 400,000 people took the four- to five-month trip in a covered wagon during the summer months for migration purposes. In 1846, one man brought two wagons full of fruit trees on the journey because Oregon had none like them. His wagon was estimated to be worth $1,000,000. Are we there yet? Discover your inner explorer. Try these search terms for more information: covered wagon, western trails 6 Print this fact booklet off our website Oregon Trail Copyright 2010 by Museum of World Treasures

2 California Trail Followed the Oregon Trail then branched off in Fort Hall, ID leading down into California. Used for 20 years (1849 to 1869) from the start of the California Gold Rush until the transcontinental railroad provided better transportation. About 250,000 people used the trail, for both migration and commercial purposes census showed an overwhelmingly high number of males to females during the Gold Rush years. The ratio of men to women in California over 16 years of age was approximately 18 to 1. California Trail Oregon Trail California Trail Mormon Trail Smoky Hill Trail Pony Express Santa Fe Trail Chisholm Trail Great Western Trail Before there were paved or even graveled roads, people traveled along trails carved out of the landscape. The trails were used for both migration and commercial purposes. Most trails either ran along major rivers or frequently crossed paths with rivers as people and animals traveling the trails needed water to survive. Trail routes were also influenced by how passable the landscape was, favoring valleys and flat terrain to hills and mountains. They also ran through towns, outposts, and forts so travellers could resupply. For these reasons, many different migration trails, like the California and Oregon Trails, used the same path for long stretches.

3 Mormon Trail Pony Express Started in Nauvoo, IL, followed the Oregon Trail loosely, then branched south to Salt Lake City, UT. Used for 23 years from 1846 to 1869 ending with the construction of the transcontinental railroad Approximately 70,000 Mormons migrated along the trail to escape religious persecution. Many poor foreign Mormons used a specially designed human-drawn hand cart instead of a covered wagon to carry their belongings. Traveling as a group, Mormons were more organized and safer than most individuals traveling on the trails. Their religion encouraged mutual aid, which meant helping each other complete the journey and survive once they reached Utah. This specialized commercial mail trail was only used for 18 months. From April 1860 to October 1861, men on horseback transported mail along the trail. Riders carried 35,000 pieces of mail from Missouri to California. It was a 10-day, 1,800 mile trip with 190 stations along the way. During its operation, riders lost only one bag of mail and one rider s life from a Native American attack. The trail stopped being used when the Overland Telegraph Company s line connected New York, NY to San Francisco, CA on October 26, The telegraph was a much more efficient form of communication. St. Joseph Ft. Leavenworth Mormon Trail Pony Express

4 Santa Fe Trail Smoky Hill Trail Used heavily for 48 years from 1821 to 1869 until railroads took away many of the trail s travelers. This commercial trail started in Independence, MO and ended in Santa Fe, NM. It was used to transport trade goods, such as cattle, household goods, and food. Two different routes were available for travel on the Santa Fe Trail. One route went through the Colorado mountains, making it longer, but safer. The southern route went through the Oklahoma plains, which was shorter, but more dangerous because of Native American raids and water shortages. Seventy-five percent of travelers chose the shorter and more dangerous route. Used for 11 years from 1859 to At first the trail was rough and unmarked, but by 1861 people were placing markers along the trail. Transcontinental railroads took the place of the trail by This gold rush migration trail started at Fort Leavenworth, KS and ended in Denver, CO. Seen as the shortest route to Denver, in 1865 the Smoky Hill Trail was resurveyed to become the Butterfield Overland Dispatch (B.O.D.), a mainly commercial trail. In 1865, the first wagon train on the B.O.D. carried 150,000 pounds of freight from Atchison, KS to Denver, CO. Stagecoaches also carried people, mail, and freight along the trail. Native American attacks were common on the Smoky Hill Trail. Fort Wallace was established in far western Kansas to protect travelers along the route. Ft. Leavenworth Atchison Mountain Branch Cimarron Cutoff Dodge City Santa Fe Trail Smoky Hill Trail

5 Chisholm Trail Trail Transportation Used for 22 years from 1864 to During peak years from 1867 to 1872, cattle hands drove at least 3,000,000 cattle north up the trail. By 1872, railroads commonly transported livestock. Commercial trail created by Jesse Chisholm. Joseph McCoy extended it north from to Abilene. It was used to drive Texas Longhorn cattle from Red River Station, TX to the rail line in Abilene where the cattle could fetch a higher price than in Texas. Jesse Chisholm s trading post was at present day 21st Street and Amidon. Dangerous trail because there were so many outlaws, angry farmers and Native Americans, disease, and cattle! The Chisholm Trail fed into the legend of the Western Cowboy. The legend romanticized cowboys as rough and tumble rugged characters with unlimited freedom, an exaggerated view of actual cowboys. Settlers using trails to move and businesses using trails to ship goods often used Conestoga (or covered) wagons like the one in this picture. Most people used oxen instead of horses or mules to pull the wagons because they were stronger. One Conestoga wagon could hold up to 2,000 pounds of freight. For safety, people often travelled the trails in groups called wagon trains. Abilene Chisholm Trail Discover your inner explorer. Try these search terms for more information: covered wagon, western trails 6 Print this fact booklet off our website Copyright 2010 by Museum of World Treasures

6 Great Western Cattle Trail Used for 19 years from 1874 to Cattlemen drove 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 cattle up the trail. The Great Western Cattle Trail started in Bandera, TX and ran north all the way to South Dakota. Many drives would stop along the way in Dodge City, KS or Ogallala, NE where cattle could be loaded on trains and transported via railways. Competed with the Chisholm Trail, but operated longer. The Chisholm Trail went through so much farm land it made farmers angry. By 1879, the Great Western Cattle Trail was the principal route for moving cattle from Texas to northern markets and rangeland. Dodge City Great Western Cattle Trail