Chimney Rock - Oregon Trail

History Nebraska Presents

The Oregon Trail: Chance, Choice, and Chimney Rock!

What was the Oregon Trail?

Reference: Mitchell Pass by William Henry Jackson 1937 - Image from the National Park Service

What was the Oregon Trail?

Reference: The Oregon National Historic Trail - Image from the National Park Service

Chimney Rock

Reference: Chimney Rock (1906) and Chimney Rock (Present ) Photos from History Nebraska

today we will be exploring How the Oregon Trail changed the way people lived

Through the stories of...

Trail Workers

Settlers

Moving west meant free land, new life, and more freedom but it also meant leaving your old life behind!

Traveling West for work or working on the trail could make you a lot of money but was dangerous!

Indigenous People

What happens to people who already live on this land? What choices do you have when your way of life is being taken from you?

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Who were the trail workers?

Pony Express Riders

Trappers

Military

Traders

Miners

John Bratt

• Born in 1842, in Leek, Staffordshire, England
• Left his life in England to live in America at 18
• Lost everything he owned in a shipwreck. Came to America with nothing.

Reference: John Bratt. Photo from The South Dakota State Historical Society

Life as a Trail Worker

Yoking a Wild Bull by William Henry Jackson

Fort Mitchell by William Henry Jackson

Bull Whacker's Whip

Reference: Bull Whacker's Whip. Photo from History Nebraska Fort MItchell by William Henry Jackson. From the National Park Service

Creating a Life in Nebraska

North Platte

Trails of Yesterday

Return

Reference: Union Pacific Railroad Shops (1868) Photo from the University of Nebraska LincolnTrails of Yesterday by John Bratt (1921)

Settlers: Heading West!

Reference: Emigrants at Kanesville by William Henry Jackson (1852)

Settlers: Heading West!

Reference: Trail Doll. Photo from History Nebraska. / Coverlet (c. 1862) Photo from History Nebraska / Approaching Chimney Rock - William Henry Jackson

Mary Ann Hafen

Life on the Trail

Reference: Winter Quarters by C. C. A. Christensen (c.1878 ) / Handcart Pioneers, by C. C. A. Christensen

Load the Wagon!

Personal

Food

Furniture 200 lbs

Soap 20 lbs

Flour 1,000 lbs

Sugar 150 lbs

Bacon 600 lbs

Bedding 50lbs

Clothes 50lbs

Rice 20 lbs

Beans 200 lbs

Coffee 75 lbs

Equipment

Salt and Pepper 50 lbs

Dried Fruit 50 lbs

2,000 lb. MAX

Farming Tools 100lbs

Seeds & Grains 50lbs

Gunpowder 25lbs

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Indigenous People

Reference: William Henry Jackson, Pawnee Indian Village. From The Museum of Nebraska Art

What Could They Do About it?

Resist

Accommodate

(Try to stop or not go along with something)

(Let happen or try to fit in)

or

Accomodate

The subgroups the Ogalala, and the Brule, were the main tribes to live across what is now western Nebraska.

Lakota

Residents of what is now Nebraska for hundreds of years before white settlers arrived, the Pawnee have likely lived in Nebraska longer than any other current tribe.

Pawnee

What did accomodation look like?

Nebraska tribes decided to let Oregon Trail travelers go through their land, but there were consequences for later generations of these tribes.

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Why Accomodate?

Reference: Pawnee Earth Lodge by William Henry Jackson. From The Kansas State Historical Society / Lakota Woman. Photo from History Nebraska

Why Accomodate?

Pawnees operated a pontoon bridge on the Elkhorn River. They would also become paid guides for river crossings. As river bottoms changed frequently, this could be a service people needed and paid for.

The Lakota did not have as many problems with settlers. They did not interact very much and when they did, the settlers were more annoying than dangerous. But this soon changed...

Native peoples traded with emigrants for metal goods, vegetable tanned leather, flour, coffee, and sugar. Some took economic opportunities to provide services.

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Choose again

Reference: Rendezvous by William Henry Jackson Sand Hills of the Platte by Henry William Jackson Elkhorn River seen from Cowboy Trail in Antelope County, Nebraska . Photo from Deseret News

Resist

What resistance looked like?

Resistance was not easy. It was not was pretty. It was not fun. What do people do when they feel like they are in danger? They fight. Resistance came in the form of fighting.

Lakota subgroups the Ogalala, and the Brule, were the main tribes to live across what is now western Nebraska.-

Lakota

Residents of what is now Nebraska for hundreds of years before white settlers arrived, the Pawnee have likely lived in Nebraska longer than any other current tribe.

Pawnee

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Why Resist?

Reference: Pawnee Earth Lodge by William Henry Jackson. From The Kansas State Historical Society / Lakota Woman. Photo from History Nebraska

Why Resist?

White settlers and immigrants began settling in Nebraska, taking Indigenous lands for their own. After several outrages, Native Nebraskans felt like they needed to fight back.

1864 - The Lakota and allies try to drive white people out of Nebraska. Red Cloud was successful in closing the Bozeman Trail, but they could not get their way of life back. The buffalo were being exterminated and the Lakota were then forced onto reservations.

Emigrants were hunting more. Their animals were using more and more grass, grass needed for native Americans' horses and wild animals they hunted.

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Choose again

Reference: Ox Yoke (c.1866) Phot from History Nebraska / Rock Creek Station by William Henry Jackson / Lakota Camp Photo from History Nebraska

Wrap up!

The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.