This gallery samples the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails east to west. It has four sections: Joint Trails, Oregon Trail, California Trail and Hastings Cutoff/Mormon Trail.
The Oregon and California Trails began in or near Independence MO, but there were other departure points including St. Joseph MO and near Omaha NE.
The Santa Fe Trail (shown in a separate gallery) overlapped for a short distance into eastern KS.
The Pony Express used part of the trails in 1860-61 and landscape shots of contemporary Re-Rides are included. The Lincoln Highway later incorporated trail segments. (Both have separate galleries.)
The Mormon Trail and Hastings Cutoff are combined at the end. Mormon-specific photos include Nauvoo and Carthage IL, Martin's Cove WY and UT.
Most emigrants experienced the trails in daytime sun and heat. So this gallery shows only a few scenes in attractive sunrise or sunset light.
Related images are in the Vanishing America, Pony Express, Santa Fe Trail, Twin Streaks of Rust, Donner Pass, St. Joseph MO and Lincoln Highway galleries. Mormon images from UT are in the Lincoln Highway UTAH and Salt Lake City galleries.
These images are only offered here. The copyright watermark does not appear.
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Keywords:American West, California Trail, Manifest Destiny, Oregon Trail, Pioneer Days, Pioneer Trail, Wagon Trail, Western Migration
