Nine Places Where You Can Still See Wheel Tracks from the Oregon Trail
The legendary trail has carved itself into American history—and, in some places, into the earth itself
By Jennifer Billock
smithsonian.com
October 3, 2016
Any child of the 1980s is familiar with the basic skeleton of the Oregon Trail, from the celebrations warranted by a sight of Chimney Rock to the dangers of running a team of oxen at a grueling pace with meager rations. But even devoted players of the classic computer game, which turned 45 this year, may not know that relics of the trail itself are still carved into the landscapes of the United States.
The trail itself—all 2,170 miles of it—was braved by more than 400,000 people between 1840 and 1880. Weighed down with wagons and their pesonal possessions, the pioneers that dared travel the Oregon Trail slowly helped build the United States’ western half. The trail began in Independence, Missouri, and continued to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, where pioneers could decide to either stay put or continue north or south and settle.
Read more:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/follow-relics-oregon-trail-180960589/#m8rAsClMaPdOY7QW.99
