Oregon Trail Ruts Marker

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Guernsey in Platte County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Oregon Trail Ruts
Registered National Historic Landmark

Oregon Trail Ruts Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Christopher Light, July 18, 2007

1. Oregon Trail Ruts Marker

Inscription. Wagon wheels cut solid rock, carving a memorial to Empire Builders. what manner of men and beasts impelled conveyances weighting on those griding wheels? Look! A line of shadows crossing boundless wilderness.

Foremost, nimble mules drawing their carts, come poised Montain Men carrying trade goods to a fur fair -- the Rendezvous. So, in 1830, Bill Sublette turns the first wheels from St. Louis to the Rocky Mountains! Following his faint trail, a decade later and on throught the 1860's, appear straining, twisting teams of oxen, mules and heavy draft horses drawing Conestoga wagons for Oregon pioneers. Trailing the Oregon-bound avant garde but otherwise mingling with those emigrants, inspired by religious fervor, loom footsore and trail worn companies -- Mormons dragging or pushing handcarts as they follow Brigham Young to the Valley of the Salt Lake. And, after 1849, reacting to a differnt stimulus but sharing the same trail, urging draft animals to extremity, straining resources and often failing, hurry gold rushers California bound.

A different breed, no emigrants but enterprisers and adventurers, capture the 1860's scene. They appear, multi-teamed units in draft -- heavy wagons in tandem, jerkline operators and bullwhackers delivering freight to Indian War outposts and agencies. Now the apparition fades in

By Christopher Light, July 18, 2007

2. Oregon Trail Ruts Marker

a changing environment. Dimley seen, this last commerce serves a new, pastoral society; the era of the cattle baron and the advent of settlement blot the Oregon Trail.

Erected by Guernsey State Park.

Marker series. This marker is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Oregon Trail marker series.

Location. 42° 15.418′ N, 104° 44.933′ W. Marker is in Guernsey, Wyoming, in Platte County. Click for map. Marker is located in Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Area/Guernsey State Park. Marker is in this post office area: Guernsey WY 82214, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Register Cliff (approx. 2 miles away).

More about this marker. Leave Guernsey by South Guernsey Road. After crossing the bridge, follow the signs to Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Area. You take the river front road, west.