The Oregon Trail was the fulfillment of America’s self-proclaimed prophecy of Manifest Destiny. Promulgated by politicians and journalists, Manifest Destiny was the belief that America’s God-given purpose was to expand its territories to the Pacific Ocean. In the 1840s, wagon trains carrying thousands of settlers hit the Oregon Trail. Famous landmarks and stops on the Oregon Trail begin in Missouri and dot territories that would become 12 states, including Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon.
Alcove Spring and its waterfall near Blue Rapids, Kansas, are part of a 300-acre park located near Independence Crossing, a popular camping ground for emigrants traveling the Oregon Trail who were waiting to ferry across the Big Blue River. In 1836, the first group of wagon trains passed through this area as they headed to the California, Utah or Oregon territories. The Donner-Reed party went through the area before becoming trapped in snow in the Sierra Nevada. The survivors resorted to cannibalism while other members died from illness and starvation. This park is free and is open from dusk to dawn.
Oregon-California Trails Association P.O. Box 310 Holton, KS 66436 785-364-5166 octa-trails.org
Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Established in the 1830s, Fort Laramie, called the “grand old post,” served as a private fur trading post and was a major stop for setters, gold prospectors and homesteaders heading farther west. It was the second fort established to keep peace between Plains Indians and settlers traveling the Oregon Trail. The property has several restored buildings, including the Old Commissary, now used as a visitor center, and soldier barracks. The fort is open from dawn to dusk every day.
Fort Laramie National Historic Site 965 Gray Rocks Road Fort Laramie, WY 82212 307-837-2221 nps.gov
Fort Bridger State Historic Site
Located in Wyoming, Fort Bridger was established by Jim Bridger and Louis Vazquez in 1843. The fort served as a supply outpost for emigrants traveling the Oregon Trail. Not as highly organized as Fort Laramie, it consisted of crudely constructed buildings. Positive aspects of the fort included its tree-covered location and access to freshwater brooks. The Mormons gained possession of the fort in the 1850s. A dispute between Mormon settlers and the federal government led to war in 1857. Mormon fighters burned down the fort and destroyed army supplies. The site was reconstructed in the late 1800s and designated a historic landmark in 1933. Visitors can stop for the day or camp overnight. Hours of operation are seasonal.
Fort Bridger State Historic Site P.O. Box 35 Fort Bridger, WY 82993 307-782-3842 wyoparks.state.wy.us
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
The Whitman Mission in Walla Walla, Washington, was founded by Methodist missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman in 1836. They established the mission as a religious school and medical facility for Cayuse Indians. In the early 1840s, Oregon Trail emigrants stopped there for supplies and food, rest and medical attention. In 1847, a wagon train transmitted measles to the local Cayuse, half of whom died because they were not resistant to the virus. Two Cayuse killed the Whitmans and other whites, thinking the Whitmans' god had brought on the tragedy. The site is open seven days a week; hours of operation change seasonally.
Whitman Mission National Historic Site 328 Whitman Mission Road Walla Walla, WA 99362 509-529-2761 nps.gov
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