2. THE FIRST PIONEERS
The first pioneers
set out west in covered
wagons in 1841. They did not
know that they were risking
their lives to start a new life
in Oregon… if they survived
the journey. At least one-
hundred wagons were in a
wagon train. Children had
to walk along-side the
wagons. You could only go
in the wagon if you were
sick/ very hurt.
3. Types of Wagons
There were three main types of
wagons. One wagon was the Conestoga
wagon. It was the fancier and expensive
of the three. The Conestoga wagon
could carry more supplies than the other
wagon.
One other wagon was called a
prairie schooner, since it looked like it
was sailing over the high prairie grass.
The pioneers did not care whether it was
not that stylish, all they cared about was
that it would get them to Oregon.
The last type of wagon was
called a Murphy wagon. It was pretty
popular.
4. Fort Kearney- mile 319
Ash Hollow- mile 504
Fort Laramie- mile 650
Independence Rock- mile 815
South Pass- mile 914
Three Island Crossing- mile
1398
Barlow Pass- mile 1878
5. Jobs on the Oregon Trail
Jobs on the trail
were different whether
you were a boy or a girl.
Boys would hunt, and
work with cattle, and
trade with Indians.
Girls would
cook, make dolls, wash
clothing, and pick
berries.
6. The Gold Rush
People went
to California during
the gold rush in 1849
because they wanted
to be rich. Only dads
and boys went
mining for gold
while the women
stayed home. Only
once in a while
would a girl go
mining. The girl
would have to be
really tough though.
7. Frontier
Photographers
If you were a
pioneer, you would
probably get you
picture taken once in
you whole entire life!
You would maybe
want you picture
taken once, since it
took 2-3 hours for the
photographers to get
ready. Think about
staying still for 3 ½
hours.
8. Frontier Schools
When people arrived
in Oregon/ California
the kids would have
to learn. “Teacher”
was not that big a
deal back then. To be
a teacher you had to
be at least
16, single, and had to
know basic math/
spelling. Children
would respect girl
teachers more than
boy teachers.
9. Lewis and Clark
Lewis
and Clark were
the first western
explorers. They
were sent by
president Thomas
Jefferson to try to
find a way to the
Pacific coast by
river. They were
aided by a Native
American named
Sacagawea.
10. Free Land
Another
reason pioneers
went west was
because free
land was being
given away by
the government
in 1862. the land
was free, only if
you lived on it
for at least 5
years.
