An exceptional segment of American history follows the Oregon Trail's western movement. The trail itself was the only practical route to the western states. The journey, also noted as the Mormon and California trails, was a most difficult ordeal taking the lives of one in ten. Considering the half million emigrants that used the trail, their numbers tell of a powerful attraction held by the western states.
The first pioneers began this arduous trip in the mid 1830s, but the massive migration began in 1843. Some lured by California's gold, while others headed to Oregon's Willamette Valley. Long lines of wagons hauled the family's worldly possessions, while others walked barefoot the entire 2,000 miles.
Nebraska's Chimney Rock, the most famous of America's half dozen Chimney Rock formations, presents a striking and rather curious landmark along the Oregon Trail. This pioneer milepost looms 325 feet above the rippling plains. Its lone spire at the peak is estimated at 120 feet. Today's Chimney Rock is slightly smaller, whittled away little by little. The Chimney Rock National Historic Site, near Byard, features a dgital presentation of this massive western movement and a close-up of the 19th century pioneer. Cholera killed more emigrants more than any other accident or disease. Across the street is a small cemetery, holding a few of the graves of those that died along the trail. All to often, pioneers did not receive a proper burial.