Migration Trails
Could you tell me where to find the trails the pioneers took to reach
California? I would like to have an idea how my ancestors wound up in
Illinois.
Norma
_____________
Dear Norma,
This is a great question and one that I see quite
often. There are a number of resources that may be of interest to you.
Ancestry has a good collection of maps in the Map Center (http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/
reference/maps/main.asp) that show various trails. Some of the more
notable maps in the collection include:
U.S. Westward Migration, 1775-1860
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=299
Exploration and Settlement Before 1675
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=641
Exploration and Settlement 1675-1800
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=643
Exploration and Settlement 1800-1820
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=644
Exploration and Settlement 1820-1835
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=645
Exploration and Settlement 1835-1850
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=647
Exploration and Settlement 1850-1890
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=648
U.S. Main Post Roads, 1804
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=556
U.S. Main Post Roads, 1834
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=557
U.S. Railroads in Operation, December 1840
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=550
U.S. Railroads in the East, 1827-1850
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=417
U.S. Railroads in the West, 1827-1850
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=419
Routes between Fort Laramie and the Great Salt Lake
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/
maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID=729
There are also some great organizations and Web
sites dedicated to migration patterns within the U.S. and the various
trails westward. Here are a few of my favorites:
The first two have a wealth of historical information
on the trails west and include maps, stories, pioneer diaries, photos,
and more. They are definitely worth a look, even if you don't have ancestors
who followed these trails.
Oregon-California Trails Association
National Frontier Trails Center
318 W. Pacific (location)
P.O. Box 1019 (mail)
Independence, MO 64051-0519
Tel: 816-252-2276
Fax: 816-836-0989
E-mail: octahqts@gvi.net
http://www.octa-trails.org/
The Overland Trail
http://www.over-land.com/index.html
American Migrations Web Site
http://members.aol.com/gedsearch/migrate.htm
This project records the names and migrations of individuals and groups.
Visitors can browse the database and/or submit records.
For a more comprehensive list of links see the
12/03/1998 Ancestry Daily News article, "Go West, Young Man" at:
http://www.ancestry.com/learn
(Note: This article is over a year old and some of the Web sites may
have new addresses or may be no longer available.)
Ancestry Daily News
