The National Oregon/California Trail Center

 In Montpelier is the National Oregon/California Trail enter as the trail crossed the creek where the trail passed and the city was built.  Seven miles before reaching town is the Big Hill.  This is likely the most serious impediment up to this time on the trail.  Going up was steep, but not too severe.  However gong down was another story.  Pioneer had to tie ropes to the wagons and around a tree to keep them from descending too fast.  Included is a reenactment of the Oregon Trail trek, and a permanent art collection by Gary Stone depicting scenes of the Oregon Trail across Idaho. 

rough work going down the Big Hill

This shows pictures of Winter Quarters on the Mormon Trail in Omaha

Big Hill marker

Lewis and Clark who pioneered trail west

painting by Minerva Teichert

Trial of Bud Meeks who road with Butch Cassidy at Montpelier Bank robbery

Meeks, Elza Lay and Butch Cassidy

mural from two angles, below and above

Reenactment of the Oregon Trail at the National Oregon/California Trail Center

 There is a doscent led presentation of the Oregon Trail, starting in Independence Missouri and following the tril ro Oregon.  This includes a wagon ride with a very bumpy road.  

outfitting

rifle shop

buffalo hide

bearskin coat

mountain lion

outfitting store

odometer

blankets used for sleeping, trading and providing a screen for privacy

Scotts Bluff: Oregon, Mormon, Pony Express, California Trail

 

The Pony Express
The Pony Express passed here 1860-1861.  "Scott's Bluff Station" was located 2 1/2 miles northwest of Mitchell Pass, near the site of the later Fort Mitchell.  There were other stations at Courthouse Rock, Chimney Rock, Ficklin's Springs and Horse Creek.  U.S.l Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

Founders, Owners, Operators Pony Express
Russell, Majors, Waddell
National Pony Express Centennial Association 1860-61 Trauil Marker 1960-61

Choices
What route would your take?
Wagon Trains that arrived at Scott's Bluff had a choice to make.  Although they wanted to stay close to the North Platt River, the bluffs were in the way.  Traveling through the badlands next to the river was impossible for wagons.  Before 1851 the ravines on the west wide of the bluffs prevented wagons from going through the notch ahead of you.  They could cross the river to the north side, which meant braving the currents and quicksand, or they could take Robidous Pass to the south and make a long detour.
Robidous Pass received its name from two brothers who built a trading post on the trail.  A nearby spring of good water, a blacksmith available for repairs and the chance to buy or trade for needed items made this a decent route to travel.
In 1850 soldiers from Fort Laramie, or traders in competition with Robidoux, created a narrow trail through the ravines at Mitchell Pass.  The new route brought them back to the river eight miles before the old one.  Emigrants started to take advantage of the shorter route back to the river in the 1851 travel season.