Recommended Reading - Oregon Trail Guidebooks

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Whether you're tracing the movements of an ancestor or driving the length of the Oregon Trail, it's always handy to have a guidebook. In addition to guides of recent vintage, two of the guidebooks that were available to the overlanders of the 1800s have been reprinted for modern readers. While they are fascinating time capsules in their own way, they probably aren't the most practical choice for planning a family vacation.

"The Emigrants The Emigrants' Guide
to Oregon and California
Lansford W. Hastings, 1845
Applewood Books - $9.95
ISBN 1-55709-245-1

The author of this book was arguably responsible for the gruesome fate of the Donner Party in the high Sierras. Lansford Hastings was more concerned with selling books and making a name for himself than he was with publishing accurate information, and he had never seen the cutoff which he wrote of in The Emigrants' Guide.

"Historic Sites Along the Oregon Trail" by Aubrey Haines Historic Sites
Along the Oregon Trail
Aubrey L. Haines, 1981
The Patrice Press - $16.95
ISBN 1-880397-03-X

Originally published in 1972 as the results of a survey of the Oregon Trail commissioned by the National Park Service, this expanded version of the survey report is a listing of 394 forts, campsites, graves, trail remnants, and natural landmarks along the length of the Trail. Maps are included, as well as references for USGS quad maps for serious Trail buffs.

"The Oregon Trail Revisited" by Gregory Franzwa The Oregon Trail Revisited
Gregory M. Franzwa, 1972
The Patrice Press - $19.95
ISBN 1-880397-23-4

Essentially a cross-country, self-guided driving tour of the Oregon Trail, The Oregon Trail Revisited gets updated every few years when a new edition is released. The author himself drives the length of the Trail to talk to local historians, visit new museums, and double-check the directions he gives in the book. The most recent edition was published in 1997.

"Maps of the Oregon Trail" by Gregory Franzwa Maps of the Oregon Trail
Gregory Franzwa, 1982
The Patrice Press - $24.95
ISBN 0-935284-82-6

For rut nuts only -- this book is not necessary to follow the driving tour set out in The Oregon Trail Revisited.

"The Prairie Traveler" by Captain Randolph Marcy The Prairie Traveler
Captain Randolph B. Marcy, 1859
Applewood Books - $10.95
ISBN 0-918222-89-3

Though written rather late in the period of emigration on the Oregon Trail, The Prairie Traveler had the distinction of not merely being the only official, government-approved guidebook, but of actually containing useful, accurate information, as well. The author was an experienced Army officer who spent much of his career serving in the West.

While You're At It...

Once you've explored the Oregon Trail, you might be interested in histories and guidebooks for other western overland trails.

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	The Emigrants' Guide to Oregon and California Lansford W. Hastings, 1845 Applewood Books - $9.95 ISBN 1-55709-245-1 The author of this book was arguably responsible for the gruesome fate of the Donner Party in the high Sierras. Lansford Hastings was more concerned with selling books and making a name for himself than he was with publishing accurate information, and he had never seen the cutoff which he wrote of in The Emigrants' Guide.
	Historic Sites Along the Oregon Trail Aubrey L. Haines, 1981 The Patrice Press - $16.95 ISBN 1-880397-03-X Originally published in 1972 as the results of a survey of the Oregon Trail commissioned by the National Park Service, this expanded version of the survey report is a listing of 394 forts, campsites, graves, trail remnants, and natural landmarks along the length of the Trail. Maps are included, as well as references for USGS quad maps for serious Trail buffs.
	The Oregon Trail Revisited Gregory M. Franzwa, 1972 The Patrice Press - $19.95 ISBN 1-880397-23-4 Essentially a cross-country, self-guided driving tour of the Oregon Trail, The Oregon Trail Revisited gets updated every few years when a new edition is released. The author himself drives the length of the Trail to talk to local historians, visit new museums, and double-check the directions he gives in the book. The most recent edition was published in 1997.
	Maps of the Oregon Trail Gregory Franzwa, 1982 The Patrice Press - $24.95 ISBN 0-935284-82-6 For rut nuts only -- this book is not necessary to follow the driving tour set out in The Oregon Trail Revisited.
	The Prairie Traveler Captain Randolph B. Marcy, 1859 Applewood Books - $10.95 ISBN 0-918222-89-3 Though written rather late in the period of emigration on the Oregon Trail, The Prairie Traveler had the distinction of not merely being the only official, government-approved guidebook, but of actually containing useful, accurate information, as well. The author was an experienced Army officer who spent much of his career serving in the West.