Other
Oregon California Trails Association: New Light on the Donner Party
The myths, mysteries, and facts are revealed at this Donner Party site. At the beginning of November 1846, a group of California-bound immigrants was trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada. By the time the last member reached safety six...
Digital History
Digital History: Trailblazing
Read about two of the trails used for both commerce and settlement. Many hardships had to be endured on both trails.
PBS
Pbs: New Perspectives on the West
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....
Other
Prairie Traveler: A Handbook for Overland Expeditions
Written in 1859, this handbook provided pioneers with valuable guidance on everything from choosing which route to gake to the west, to what kinds of tents to use, to how to deal with Indians. It was an invaluable source for those making...
Other
Road Trip Usa: Cross Country Adventures on America's Two Lane Highways
Learn all about America without ever leaving home. Select a driving tour, then find colorful information about what all the small towns have to offer. Many fun facts about famous historical destinations are given. Based on Jamie Jensen's...
Discovering Lewis & Clark
Discovering Lewis & Clark: The Botanists
This section of Discovering Lewis & Clark examines Lewis's role as a naturalist and features biographical sketches of botanists David Douglas, Frederick Traugott Pursh, Thomas Nuttall, and Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz.
Digital History
Digital History: Explorations: Children and the Westward Movement
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.
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Journeys West
A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which young scholars explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Westward
Overview of U.S. westward expansion during the 1800s.
History Link
History Link: Travel Through Time and Culture
An interesting site with a K-6 Social Studies and Technology Curriculum based on field trips and site visits around the Seattle/Tacoma area.
Digital History
Digital History: America's Manifest Destiny [Pdf]
After a brief discussion of Manifest Destiny in other parts of country, read about the Texas rebellion against Mexico, the battles against Santa Anna, and the treaties that made Texas an independent country. [pdf]
Scholastic
Scholastic: Our America: Western Expansion
Reviews of children's literature, student activities, and interactive games from Scholastic that enrich a student's understanding and appreciation of western expansion before the Civil War.
Apple
Apple Learning Interchange: Classroom Ideas
Do you use Appleworks in your classroom? Would you like some ideas that others have used? This site presents some exemplary lessons from other teachers.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: 1846: Portrait of a Nation
This site provides a glimpse into the United States in the year 1846. James Polk was president and the Westward Expansion was in full force. The site has nice historical photographs.
Other
Pony Express Home Station: Pony Express Route
Use this site to view maps of routes on the Pony Express and also read a brief history.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Three Island Crossing
A National Park Service site that gives a brief description of Three Island Crossing (Snake River) and what sometimes occurred when the wagon trains heading westward tried to cross.
Other
The Gold Rush: The Journey
Read about the routes followed by those seeking the riches of California. Find out the advantages and hazards of each route.
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: The System of Communication, Western United States, 1850
The chief systems of overland travel and communication during the middle nineteenth century including railroads, stage lines, and trails (Oregon Trail, Spanish Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and the Route of the Forty-niners). The system of...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Trade and Migration, 1840 1850
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...
Curated OER
Etc: Principal Routes of Trade and Migration, 1840 1850
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...
Curated OER
Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming: Independence Rock
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.
Curated OER
The Journey by Land
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.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Nebraska: Robidoux Pass
Pass that was part of the Oregon Trail from 1848 to 1851, when another pass became preferred.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Francis Parkman
Francis Parkman (September 16, 1823 - November 8, 1893) was an American historian, best known as author of The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life and his monumental seven volume France and England in North America.