The Oregon Trail Episodes
Published in 1849, The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life is a first-person travel narrative by historian Francis Parkman. It documents his 1846 journey through the American West at the age of 23, capturing a "vanishing frontier" just before the massive waves of the Gold Rush changed the landscape forever.
Jan. 18, 2026
THE OREGON TRAIL (CHAPS 3-4) FORT LEAVENWORTH and JUMPING OFF
Chapter 3: Fort Leavenworth Arrival at the Frontier: After struggling up the Missouri River on a steamboat, Parkman and his party arrive at Fort Leavenworth. He describes the fort as a remote but orderly military outpost on t...
Jan. 11, 2026
THE OREGON TRAIL (CHAP 2) BREAKING THE ICE
The Oregon Trail Chapter 2 often covers the initial stages of the journey, focusing on the immense preparations, the chaotic departure from Independence/St. Joseph, Missouri, and early encounters with the vast plains, includi...