Ogallala in Keith County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Mormon Trail
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011
1. The Mormon Trail Marker
Inscription.
The Mormon Trail. . Mormons traveled the Great Platte River Road to fulfill a religious mission. In the 1840s members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.(Mormons) moved westward to escape religious persecution. Beginning in 1847 they crossed the Plains to establish their New Zion in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley. To avoid contact with those who did not share their faith, the earliest Mormon emigrants followed the north bank of the Platte, which is often called the Mormon Trail. By the 1850’s and 1860s, however, non-Mormons were also using the north bank route, while many Mormons followed trails south of the Platte.
Some of the Mormon emigrants used handcarts to carry their belongings, enabling poorer converts to make the journey west. Some handcart pioneers died on the trail from starvation or cold when they left too late in the season. In all, more than 70,000 Mormons went west on the Great Platte River Road.
Mormons traveled the Great Platte River Road to fulfill a religious mission. In the 1840s members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.(Mormons) moved westward to escape religious persecution. Beginning in 1847 they crossed the Plains to establish their New Zion in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley. To avoid contact with those who did not share their faith, the earliest Mormon emigrants followed the north bank of the Platte, which is often called the Mormon Trail. By the 1850’s and 1860s, however, non-Mormons were also using the north bank route, while many Mormons followed trails south of the Platte.
Some of the Mormon emigrants used handcarts to carry their belongings, enabling poorer converts to make the journey west. Some handcart pioneers died on the trail from starvation or cold when they left too late in the season. In all, more than 70,000 Mormons went west on the Great Platte River Road.
Erected by Ogallala/Keith County Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 5.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Mormon Pioneer Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 41° 7.541′ N, 101° 43.228′
Click or scan to see this page online
W. Marker is in Ogallala, Nebraska, in Keith County. Marker is on West A Street near West Second Street. This marker is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of West A Street and West Second Street. It is marker no. 5 of the Historic Walk of Fame in Ogallala, NE. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 West A Street, Ogallala NE 69153, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Mormon Trail - Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011
2. The Mormon Trail Marker
The Ogallala Public Library is in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 864 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.