Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail
n.
a route used during the U.S. westward migrations, esp. in the period from 1840 to 1860, starting in Missouri and ending in Oregon. ab. 2000 mi. (3200 km) long.

* * *

Major U.S. route to the Northwest in the 19th century.

It stretched about 2,000 mi (3,200 km), from Independence, Mo., to the Columbia River region of Oregon. First used by fur traders and missionaries, it was heavily used in the 1840s by travelers to Oregon, including settlers of the "great migration," led by Marcus Whitman. Of all western trails, it was in use for the longest period, surviving competition from the railroad by serving as a trail for eastward cattle and sheep drives.

* * *

▪ historical trail, United States
 in U.S. history, one of the great emigrant routes to the Northwest, running from Independence, Mo., to the Columbia River region of Oregon. It crossed about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of rugged terrain, including desert and Indian territory.

      First used by fur traders and missionaries, the trail was suddenly in the 1840s thick with the wagon trains of about 12,000 emigrants to Oregon. Including an occasional stop at various forts for replenishment of supplies and livestock and for repairs, the journey took about four to six months. Some 1,000 settlers joined the “great migration” led by Marcus Whitman (Whitman, Marcus) (1843). Hordes of gold seekers also used the eastern portion of the trail to California in the late 1840s. Beginning in 1847, thousands of Mormons followed a route later called the Mormon Trail, which frequently coincided in Wyoming with the Oregon Trail. Of all the overland routes west, the Oregon Trail was in use for the longest period; after railroads replaced much travel by wagon train, the trail was often used for eastward cattle and sheep drives.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Oregon Trail — Oregon National Historic Trail Besonderheit: Historische Handels und Siedlungsroute des 19. Jahrhunderts über die Rocky …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Oregon Trail II — is a video game released by MECC in 1996. It was published by SoftKey Multimedia. The opening screen of Oregon Trail II. It is a revised version of the original Oregon Trail computer game. It was redesigned with the help of American Studies PhD… …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Trail — Oregon Trail, the one of the main paths across the US to the western part of the country, used by ↑pioneers (=people who are the first to go and live in an unknown land) in the mid 19th century. The Trail crossed the ↑Great Plains and the ↑Rocky… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Oregon Trail — former route extending from the Missouri River in Mo., northwest to the Columbia River in Oreg., much used by westward migrants ( c. 1840 60): c. 2,000 mi (3,219 km) …   English World dictionary

  • Oregon Trail — For other uses, see Oregon Trail (disambiguation). Oregon Trail The route of the Oregon Trail shown on a map of the western United States from Independence, Missouri (on the eastern end) to Oregon City, Oregon (on the western end) …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Trail — Piste de l Oregon La Piste de l Oregon est représentée ici en rouge …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Oregon Trail Ruts (Guernsey, Wyoming) — Oregon Trail Ruts U.S. National Register of Historic Places U.S. National Historic Landmark …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Trail Memorial half dollar — Oregon Trail Commemorative United States Value .50 U.S. dollars Mass  12.5 g Diameter  30.6 mm Thickness  ? mm Edge …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Trail Historic District — may refer to: Oregon Trail Historic District (American Falls, Idaho), listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Power County, Idaho Oregon Trail Historic District (Vale, Oregon), listed on the National Register of Historic Places in… …   Wikipedia

  • Oregon Trail Junior High School — Oregon Trail Middle School Location Olathe, Kansas, USA Information Motto Students prepared for their future Principal Dr.Stephen Massey Abbreviation …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”