Primary Source Spotlight: Oregon Trail

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

From End of the Oregon Trail, America’s Library:

The Oregon Trail was a route used by people who traveled to Oregon Country, which is what Oregon was called before it became a state in 1859. The Oregon Trail was the most popular way to get to Oregon Country from about 1843 through the 1870s. The trail started in Missouri and covered 2,000 miles before ending in Oregon City.

Oregon National Historic Trail History & Culture National Park Service

Maps related to the Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail image set

Oregon Trail books

Oregon Trail historical newspaper coverage 1836-1879

Oregon Trail historical newspaper coverage 1880 and beyond

American Life Histories mentioning the Oregon Trail 

Select primary sources & analysis activities related to Traveling on the Overland Trails, 1843-60

Learning from the Source: Primary Source Trail of Western Emigration

Oregon state primary source collections