THE OREGON TRAIL, Yesterday and Today

Description

This is the book that will introduce readers to the Oregon Trail and its major variants to the Willamette Valley. Before California’s gold and after it, there was Oregon – the place where the land was free and fertile. This book tells its story. The first section compares the Hollywood version of the trail with the real trail. The next section describes the trail’s historical development. Then the Fremont -Preuss trip maps of the Oregon Trail are shown and discussed. Next, various guidebook are discussed and three diaries are used to take the reader day by day from the crossing of the North Platte to the Sweewater Valley, past Independence Rock, and farther into central Wyoming. Read how one wagon company celebrated Independence Day. For the best view of the trail one must examine it as the emigrants saw it, and see it as it still exists today. That is exactly what the “yesterday and today” section does. The works of a variety of emigrant /artists are included. Alfred J. Miller, William H. Tappan , and William H. Jackson’s paintings, sketches and photos are featured, but the works of many others are also included. They are pared with recent photos of the same sites. The final section examines the major museums and displays along the trail and suggested readings for further learning. Reviews and comments: