The Oregon Trail began in which U.S. state?

Because of the traffic jams, etc., George Donner opted to fall for a sales pitch to try the Hastings shortcut. It cut miles off the journey by going through Utah and into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The route was arduous and full of deep ruts, no place for oxen pulling wooden wheeled wagons to be. It slowed them down for weeks, leading them to arrive late in the year, in time for the early snows to drown the Sierras. and thus was the fate of the Donner Party. :(

And what comes to my mind - the Oregon Trail game. Education at its best 😊

Player Tamsen, My husband drives a semi and goes through Donner's pass quite often; from east to west coast every week. My daughter and son in law also, as they're team truckers as well. Certainly no fun this time of year!

ChewyCorsair73492, parts of the Oregon Trail are preserved, in some states. I grew up in Nebraska, near Scotts Bluff and you could still see (c.1960's) ruts made from the wagons in some areas.

Player Tamsen, They also left too late to make it even if they had taken the traditional route. They were doomed before they even got started. 87 people left, I believe 40 made it.

While traveling from Reno to Sacramento, my husband and I were caught in Donner Pass at the summit We spent several hours trying to get chains during white out conditions Chains cost us a fortune but we got through the pass and home safely Snow was gone the next day but the experience was frightening to say the least.

It was said that the reason Missouri is so conservative is because it was settled by pioneers who stopped there on their way west and stayed there rather than face any future travel challenges.

These current times we live in have there serious problems. But thanks to modern technology, life is more comfortable and convenient.

Ken, Not I. I live in Seattle. I read history.

ChewyCorsair73492, Wagon ruts are visible from Scott’s Bluff, Nebraska. Parts still exist.

Vic, yes, me too, it’s a very sad part of the American history,

who guessed Oregon?

Chrono Neko, love that game!

Player Tamsen, yes,,such a sad trip that was,,I watched the documentary about the Donner journey and it made me sick,

ChewyCorsair73492, portions are the same as ever. some portions were used to build the modern paved highways and roads we use today. it is a hodgepodge of anywhere from original state or preserved and completely destroyed and turned into developed land and structures today.

The trail passed through what would become six states, but at the time was just US territory. They would not be organized into states for several more years.

Player Tamsen, So sad what they had to go through

I can't imagine doing that. Those people had guts. Do you realize that before say 1900 you could set a man down just about anywhere on Earth and could survive? Forget it now

So, I got this wrong. I raised my daughters in Ohio and we lived near, what was called the Oregon Trail. So, I am confused.

ChewyCorsair73492, just like Route 66. Americana can only be found on Google, unfortunately.

Queenofnacht, I love ask a mortician!

Player Tamsen, I heard that on ask a mortician

So the Oregon trail is no more? what happened to it, why wasn't it preserved??