From Covered Wagon to Freeway Travel

From Covered Wagon to Freeway Travel. . Centuries of water runoff from mountain peaks cut channels through Nevada's mountain formations and deserts, creating river corridors that support a variety of wildlife and plants. One such river is the Humboldt, which flows across most of northern Nevada. For centuries Shoshone and Paiute Indian tribes explored every bend in the river in search of edible plants and wild game. What was taken each year by these gatherers and hunters was replaced by nature, thus maintaining a natural balance., From nearly 250,000 emigrants, their oxen, mules, horses and cattle followed the road along the Humboldt, in the process upsetting the centuries-old natural balance. Emigrants took advantage of the variety of plants and wildlife, depleting much of the river's natural resources and leaving little or nothing for the native tribes., The constant processions of emigrant wagons compacted the soil along the Humboldt's bank, creating a well-defined road. This roadbed evolved into part of the right-of-way of the Central Pacific Railroad in 1869, linking the eastern and western United States. The route has served as northern Nevada's primary transportation corridor up to the present day. , During the 1960s and 1970s, I-80 was built through Nevada following the Humboldt River and paralleling the original emigrant trail., Water Barrels , Filled at places along the trail where water was plentiful, they slaked the thirst of both people and animals on long waterless stretches of the trail., Washtub and Washboard , The labor-intensive predecessor of the modern clothes washer, these were used on the trail to wash clothing and the emigrants themselves., Stewpot
An essential item for use in preparing meals along the trail, and would also be needed by emigrants after they arrived in California.