Activity
Other

Historic Trails: Oregon/california Trails

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find a map of the Oregon Trail and California Trail and click Historical Trails tab to discover the hardships and daily grind of traveling on the Oregon Trail.
Interactive
University of Richmond

American Panorama: The Overland Trails 1840 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive map highlights the emigrations of men and women over the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails in the 1840s and 50s. Also features a timeline of migration, diary entries from individual migrants, and a flow map showing how...
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teachers: Journeys West

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which learners explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"
Graphic
Sacramento Bee

Sac Bee: The Journey by Land

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses where people came from and the many routes that were taken to get to California. Many traveled the Mormon and Oregon Trails.
Website
Other

U.s. Route 40: History of Route 40

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of U.S. Route 40, including the development of predecessor roads such as colonial roads, the national road, pioneer trails, and various highways.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Explorations: Children and the Westward Movement

For Students 1st - 9th
Read first-hand accounts to learn about the children who made the journey west to California, Utah, Oregon and other destinations in the mid-1800s.
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Santa Fe and Oregon Trails to the Pacific Coast, 1840 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the western United States in 1840-1850 showing the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe, the two principal overland routes from Independence, Missouri, to the western territories and the Pacific. The map shows the territory boundaries,...
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Trade and Migration, 1840 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States showing the principal trade and westward migration routes between 1840 and 1850. The map shows state and territory boundaries at the time, major cities, ports, outposts, forts, and settlements, rivers, mountain...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Principal Routes of Trade and Migration, 1840 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States between 1840 and 1850 showing the states and territories, and the principal routes of transportation and westward migration during the period. The map shows frontier forts, outposts, and settlements, the...
Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming: Independence Rock

For Students 9th - 10th
Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 ft (40 m) high, which served as a landmark on the Oregon Trail and California Trail in southwestern Natrona County.
Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: Natl Historic Landmarks in Kansas: Hollenberg Pony Express Station

For Students 9th - 10th
Built by Gerat H. Hollenberg in 1858, this cabin was associated with the Oregon and California Trails, the Pony Express, and the Butterfield Overland Mail. Hollenberg traded with emigrants on the trails, operated the westernmost Pony...
Website
PBS

Pbs: New Perspectives on the West

For Students 9th - 10th
This in-depth resource presents a history of the American West from pre-Columbian times until World War I with profiles, documents, and images. It encourages visitors to link these into patterns of historical meaning for themselves....
Graphic
Curated OER

The Journey by Land

For Students 9th - 10th
This CalGoldRush.com site discusses where people came from and the many routes that were taken to get to California. Many traveled the Mormon and Oregon Trails.