The Long Haul West: Life on the Oregon Trail By ... - Lourdes College

industry, escape from religious persecution, the desire for adventure and the need for rich farm
land on which to live were all part of the American dream that drove people west down the long
trail.
<strong>The</strong> Oregon Trail was known by many different names depending on who was traveling
on it or where it went. During the Mormon migration to Utah, it was called the Mormon Trail,
and it went to the Great Salt Lake. It was known as the California Trail during the Gold Rush
when every man went out to make his fortune in California. It was called the Platte Trail because
it went through the Platte River Basin, not a pleasant place to be. <strong>The</strong> Indians had a few names
for it, too, like the Great Medicine Road of the Whites and the White-Topped Wagon Road. But
history came to know it as the Oregon Trail. 1
To understand the Oregon Trail, we must understand where exactly its path wove. <strong>The</strong>
2,000 mile path across the <strong>West</strong>ern United States began in Independence, Missouri and many
similar cities along the Missouri River. This was near the border with Kansas along the Missouri
River. From there, the trail entered Kansas and took a turn north towards Nebraska. Once in
Nebraska, the trail cut across the state diagonally to the northwest. A third of the way into
Nebraska, the trail met the Platte River at Fort Kearney. <strong>The</strong> trail followed the Platte River until
it split into the North and South Platte Rivers. This was in Nebraska near the northeastern most
point where it met Colorado. It continued on, following the North Platte River into Wyoming.
Before leaving Wyoming, the trail passed through Scott's Bluffs, home to some of the
most famous rock formations in the country including Chimney Rock. Once farther into
Wyoming, the trail’s first stop was Fort Laramie. Half way through Wyoming, it would pass by
Independence Rock before heading up the steep stretch to the South Pass. This is where the
Oregon Trail crossed the Rocky Mountains, at the source of the North Platte River. Once through
2