341 entries match your criteria. Entries 101 through 200 are listed.⊲ Previous 100 — Next 100 ⊳
California Trail Historical Markers
This Trail carried people to California following the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill. Westward to western Wyoming it shares much of its route with the Pony Express Trail, the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Pioneer Trail, and the Union Pacific route of the Transcontinental Railroad. This series includes California Road markers that highlight the southern routes from Arkansas through Indian Territory westward to the California gold fields.
"Day pleasant. First part of afternoon had down hill road and good, then had a long and very rocky hill to go down road very winding." - Benjamin Franklin Ruggles, Aug 16, 1859 — — Map (db m149214) HM
“Drove 5 miles to Hat Creek Station (Old Station). Wild looking place. Signs of Indians. They have been here of late fishing.”
Gorman Gates Kimball, Jun 19, 1865 — — Map (db m58127) HM
"Drove to Little Hat Creek (Hill) 6 miles, a beautiful little mountain valley with Hat Creek running through it. - Very good road today." Gorman Gates Kimball, Jun 19, 1865 — — Map (db m148336) HM
"Tonight we are camped at 'Lost Camp Station' which is 8 miles below Hat Creek Station. Good water here but grass is enclosed...Have seen some very high mountains today" - Benjamin Franklin Ruggles, Aug 16, 1859 — — Map (db m149158) HM
"Drove up Hat Creek Crost [sic] it (Went) over a rockey [sic] ridge up a level flat & over some small bluffs to a creek (Lost Creek) Drove up it to a ranch and camped" A. L. Covel, Sep 5, 1859 — — Map (db m148738) HM
"Very cold froze hard in camp last night ... We rolled on over a rough stony road ... and put up near a small pond fine feed and good water ... ducks & geese plenty ... This evening our camp presents a cheerful scene." J. R. Bradway, Sep 7, 1853 — — Map (db m148273) HM
"There has been snow capped mountains in sight for the last week: this evening Shasta Peak, Lawsons Butte are in plain view & they resemble large banks of snow." - Mary C. Fish, Sep 14, 1860" — — Map (db m149213) HM
“We had at starting 5 miles up-hill travel mostly of a gradual ascent. This brought us to the summit of the hill from which Sacramento Valley may be seen.”
Allen J. Tyrell, Sep 14, 1860 — — Map (db m58129) HM
"Started and travailed [sic] some sixteen milles [sic] and camped within forty rodds [sic] (220 yards) of the Canon House for the night" - Ransom Josiah Arnold, Sep 11, 1860 — — Map (db m149413) HM
"We was [sic] informed that the citizens of Shasta had prepared a dinner at the St. Charles Hotel for the emegrants [sic]...We was [sic] the first train of waggons [sic] that ever come [sic] into Shasta on the . . . — — Map (db m148328) HM
“Traveled 15 miles to Charley’s Ranch and camped there. Good water, drove the stock 2 miles to grass, here we heard the first chicken crow, and saw the first hog.”
- John S.L. Taylor, Sep. 2, 1854 — — Map (db m70349) HM
This site was an early stopping place for emigrants using the Nobles Trail and became a stage and freighting station established by William W. L. Smith in 1858. Site of Foot of the Mountain Station is one mile north of Dersch Road. — — Map (db m149410) HM
The two branches of the Nobles Trail rejoined near Shingletown and continued westward to Shasta City. Shingletown was named after the numerous shingle mills in the area. — — Map (db m149326) HM
"Traveld 7 miles. Road very hard to brake on account of stone & chaperal brush. Encamped on Rassberry (Manzanita) Creek. Grass rather (poor) but abundenc(e) of Mt Rassberrys." -
Solomon Kingery, Aug 17, 1852 — — Map (db m149161) HM
"Drove up a hill (at the trail junction we took) the left hand road past peek [sic] (Table Mountain) on our left)" - A. L. Covel, Sep 6, 1859 — — Map (db m149160) HM
"Our road still runs a westerly direction pretty level road but very thick large timber to Battle Creek... Steep banks; ford good. Swift current 25 ft. wide 2 ft. deep; very clear good water." - J. D. Randall, Aug. 28, 1852 — — Map (db m149324) HM
"Deer Flat is quite a little valley. Here were two ranches or farms. Emigrants stop here to rest and recruit their stock...We lay over eights day [sic]" - John Murray Mickey, Aug 12, 1854 — — Map (db m149319) HM
"Six miles farther (from Lost Creek) over a very rough road and some very large hills to another creek (Manzanita Creek). Previous to reaching this stream passed over an extensive plain of Manzanita" - J. R. Bradway, Sep 10, 1853 — — Map (db m149316) HM
Beginning in 1854, John Bope's Ranch and Inn was a major stopping place on the Ridge Road. "3-1/2 miles to Tavern in Plum Valley, here we campt,...gold diggings all around here." - Loring S. Comstock, Aug 28, 1855 — — Map (db m99648) HM
"On again (along ridge), 2 miles to Gallaway's Rancho, then 4 miles to Forest City, to right of road and Orleans Flat (and Alleghany) to left of road. - Loring Samuel Comstock, Aug 28, 1855. — — Map (db m99646) HM
"Went to Downieville, called one of the smartest mining towns in the country, containing some 4, or 5,000 inhabitants, buildings in the business part of town are very well built a great deal of business is done" - Winslow Blake, Aug 25, 1852 — — Map (db m99645) HM
"We took up the mountain side through a rough and rocky, but not very steep, ravine. Large pines, firs and cedars abound,...some of which are fully six feet through." - Isaac J. Wistar, Aug 17, 1849 — — Map (db m148733) HM
(front plaque)
South Road - Forks Of The Yreka Trail
“All in need of provisions were supplied by a government
agent at this camp. Near this point the road forks-one
leading to Jacksonville, in Oregon, and the other to . . . — — Map (db m151605) HM
"Road good ... Still crooking round the inlets of lake, make 8 miles and camp at a fine bold spring but not cold."
Virgil Pringle, Oct 2, 1846 — — Map (db m151579) HM
"Drove 16 miles down Shasta Valley, most of the way good roads, no hills to cross now, but in places the road is stony. Today passed one or two houses. The first I have seen for several months" - James S. Cowden, Oct 11, 1853 — — Map (db m151631) HM
"After noon we drove on until night and no water to be seen
anywhare; so we pitched camp and stayed all night without
water; in the morning we hitched up and pushed on for water"
-James Baron, Aug 9, 1855 — — Map (db m151586) HM
"At noon we came to a pine forest. Traveled in it the
rest of the day. One very steep stony hill to go up.
Road considerably stony at intervals all day."
- George McCowen, Aug 28, 1854 — — Map (db m151589) HM
"Started at 6 went on to pine woods took dinner no
water or grass then passed on to Butte Creek & followed
it three miles & campt round a little lake quite stony to
day poor country"
- Hinsdale Truman Shepard Sep 4, 1852 — — Map (db m151590) HM
"Started & went 15 miles to Shasta River & campt
verry cold nights frost last night not [feeling]
any better" - Hinsdale Truman Shepard, Sep 7, 1852 — — Map (db m151633) HM
"The first day of October we journeyed west fourteen miles to the Snelling Ranch, now called the Hurd Ranch, near Sheep Rock, Shasta Valley." - Andrew Soule, Oct 1, 1854 — — Map (db m151629) HM
"Went 15 miles came to a big meadow [grass lake] & campt we took water with us this morning found no good water here" - Phoebe S. Terwilliger, Oct 11, 1854 — — Map (db m151608) HM
"Only drove 6 miles to a good camping place. Are yet on Butte Creek. There is a large amount of timber ... The hills and mountains are nearly all covered with a heavy growth of pine timber" - James S. Cowden, Oct 9, 1853 — — Map (db m151604) HM
"We are now out of the diggers and and in the Shasta
Valley tribe (country) they are not so hostile" - Sophronia Helen Stone, Sep 20, 1852 — — Map (db m151592) HM
"The next day we followed up Butte Creek for six
miles and pitched our tents. We lost a fine horse here."
- Andrew Soule, Sep 29, 1854 — — Map (db m151595) HM
Original Marker (2008):
Yreka Trail - Splendid Pine Timber
"Passed through splendid pine timber & fur [sic] & spruce ... Passed the dividing ridge of the Shasta Mountains Verry [sic] rough & bad roads this afternoon 18 miles to day . . . — — Map (db m151902) HM
“Crossed on the natural bridge ... Composed of
solid rock ... Went 15 miles had some stony
road and came to Clamouth Lake & campt”
-Phoebe Hogeboom Terwilliger, Oct 8, 1854 — — Map (db m113111)
“Morn. Fine. Cook still sick no breakfast or dinner
for today. Get away in good time road runs
over the bluff quite rocky to lake”
-John Pratt Welsh, Aug 26, 1853 — — Map (db m113116)
“Here road leaves [Klamath] Lake and follows up the
side of a steep hill 1/2 mile but is not hard to climb”
-William Cochran Stoddard, Sep 16, 1852 — — Map (db m113109)
“Crossed the Sacremento [Lost River], over the hill
or divide to a large swamp down this to a lake
(Clammett) about 3 ms, down the lake and camped”
-Lester Hulin, Oct 8, 1847 — — Map (db m113117)
As early as 1852 wagon trains of overland emigrants crossed 600 feet to the north into Shasta Valley and Yreka; and at this point the 1857 Military Pass from Fort Crook emerged to join the westward emigrant road. — — Map (db m151607) HM
“Here we came in cite of the bute It is a splendid cite Went down the hill on to the flats Spencer & Brill shot a deer.”
– Hinsdale Truman Shepard, Sep 6, 1852 — — Map (db m151609) HM
'Left camp early. About 10 o'clock commenced down hill. Nooned at the Sheep Rock'
- George McCowen, August 30, 1854
For guidebook availability
Trails West Inc., www.EmigrantTrailsWest.org — — Map (db m195081) HM
"Stop at Sheep Rock Here is ceder [sic] and pine Large strait [sic] and tall Now this is a large rocky region where the mountain sheep abounds Deer and antelope to[sic]" - Sophronia Helen Stone, Sep 22, 1852 — — Map (db m151610) HM
"Made a drive of 20 miles and campt by what are called Sheep Rock Springs, at the head of Shasta River Valley and about 30 miles from our destination, Yreka City." - James S, Cowden, Oct 10, 1853 — — Map (db m151627) HM
“Drove into town (Yreka) and a mighty town it is... several very good brick buildings. ...nothing can be bought here for less than two bits, a loaf of bread that use to cost five cents is 25, salt 25 per lb.” George McCowen, Sep 1, 1854 — — Map (db m151576) HM
"Today we have landed to our journeys end neare Yreka, whare
we stopped to graze our teems ... we exspect to stay here some
days to rest for the man that crosses the planes will feel
like resting when he gits through" - James Bardin, Aug 11, . . . — — Map (db m151637) HM
J.G. Buff, leader of the Washington City Mining Co., camped on this site from Oct. 21, 1849 to Dec. 31, 1849. While here guarding company goods, at what he called "his mt. lodge in prosperity", he aided, fed, and cheered many weary, hungry, and sick . . . — — Map (db m87733) HM
"The view below and before us truly grand - - the lofty mountains the stupendous rocks with the deep but magnificent vale below ... renders this one of the finest and most picturesque views I ever beheld" - Henry Austin, Oct 21 1849 . . . — — Map (db m87743) HM
"We gained the summit of greatest elevation. ... here we found 8 dead oxen, 2 discarded wagons, pieces of others, clothing, & c, scattered around" - J. Goldborough Bruff, Oct 21, 1849
Guidebook available
Trails West Inc., P.O. Box . . . — — Map (db m87741) HM
"There is an immense abyss on either side, we could look down thousands of feet. The side of the ridge seeming almost perpendicular" - Charles Glass Gray, Sep 29, 1849
Guidebook available
Trails West Inc., P.O. Box 12045, Reno, NV 89510 . . . — — Map (db m87734) HM
"Could you see me I would not be recognized, dirty, filthy & ragged are fully equal in appearance (to) the natives excepting being in an entire state of nudity" - Wm. Steuben, Sep 20, 1849
Guidebook available
Trails West Inc., P.O. . . . — — Map (db m87729) HM
Sonora was the goal of many emigrants traveling the various overland and sea routes.
The 1852 Clark-Skidmore Party of emigrants from Elizabethtown, Ohio and Lawrenceburg, Indiana struggled to force a wagon train up the Walker River and over the . . . — — Map (db m7566) HM
“Started for Marysville with good road at noon... hitched up and plodded on our dusty road to Marysville, where we arrived at 4 o’clock. This is a busy little place, but they had just had quite an extensive fire” – William . . . — — Map (db m113874) HM
”with practically no food for man or beast, and by bringing all the energy and courage which both men and beast possessed,…we succeeded in…reaching the first, or Johnston’s settlement.”
-Benjamin Hoffman, Sep 1, 1849 — — Map (db m40842) HM
Beginning in Independence, Missouri, the Oregon/California Trail passes through present-day Missouri, Kansas, Wyoming, and Idaho. it ends in Oregon, California or Utah - depending on the destination of the pioneers.
While the . . . — — Map (db m90876) HM
In the summer of 1849, the California Gold Rush was diverted this way in search of a more direct route to the mines.
Stampeding 49'ers would try anything to save miles and time in their rush for California's gold: the regular Oregon and . . . — — Map (db m106774) HM
The Bidwell-Bartleson Party
In 1841, John Bidwell and John Bartleson became the first Americans emigrants to undertake a wagon crossing from Missouri to California.
Although Oregon was the primary destination of early westward-bound . . . — — Map (db m140278) HM
Geological processes created the complex landscape of southeastern Idaho and eventually determined the routes covered wagons would take along the Oregon Trail. In their journals, trail emigrants often wrote something about the two volcanic cinder . . . — — Map (db m140253) HM
Native Americans traveled and camped in the Soda Springs area for centuries before emigrants traveled the Oregon Trail.
Sheep Rock (Soda Point) marked the junction of the main route of the Oregon-California Trail and the Hudspeth Cutoff and was . . . — — Map (db m106850) HM
In 1840, John Bidwell began to assemble emigrants from Missouri to open a road to California; and a year later, he set out with a party of 69 Pacific Coast pioneers.
When they reached here, August 12, 1841, half of this group decided to go . . . — — Map (db m106729) HM
Surrounded by high Rocky and very ragged looking mountains -- this valley we take the liberty to call Pleasant Valley, as it is a very good and pleasant for camping. -- Leander V. Loomis, circa 1850, describing the Circle Creek Basin. . . . — — Map (db m123961) HM
"At the entrance of the pass was a pleasant little spring & fine branch." - Wakeman Bryarly, Jul 20, 1849
Guidebook available
Trails West Inc, P.O. Box 12045 Reno NV 89510 — — Map (db m138456) HM
"We enter a gorge of the hills which in a short time brings us to a large ampitheatre surrounded with rock of every kind of fanciful character." -- Joseph Middleton Aug 26, 1849 Guidebook Available
Trails West Inc. P.O. Box 12045, Reno . . . — — Map (db m123955) HM
"A ride ... brought us to the outlet of this romantic vale, a very narrow pass - just wide enough for a wagon, and on either side very high, jagged and thin walls of granite ... called the 'Pinnacle Pass'" - J.G. Bruff, Aug 29, 1849
. . . — — Map (db m123990) HM
"The gray granit rocks stand in pyramid monument & dome forms., here & there towering aloft. The road winds along between them. Emigrants names are written ... on these curious structures" -- Augustus Ripley Burbank, Aug 4, 1849 Guidebook . . . — — Map (db m123987) HM
...with a wide plain at our left and high mountains at our right and being within sight of the...Salt Lake Route which road intersects our trail seven miles further on. - Emigrant journal entry (Lewis), circa 1850, describing their camp . . . — — Map (db m123953) HM
This vast scene holds many intriguing stories. If the land could speak, it would tell of pioneers and wagons crossing the wide Ralf River Valley from Strevell Pass to Emigrant Canyon bound for California in 1843-1882. The land would speak of stage . . . — — Map (db m123956) HM
There are thousands of names here I registered on a large Rock. -- Richard Augustus Keen at City of Rocks, June 22, 1852
Throughout the West emigrants recorded their passing by writing their names -- often with axle grease -- at unique . . . — — Map (db m123960) HM
At City of Rocks we were met with all kinds of Christmas greeting ... we sat down to a Christmas dinner that only youth and vigor could do justice to.... Jim has erected a Christmas tree, and decorated it with cranberries and pop corn, and on it . . . — — Map (db m124001) HM
After dinner a ride of 2 miles brought us to the outlet of this romantic vale, a very narrow pass, just wide enough for a wagon, and on either side very high, jagged. and thin walls of granite.... This is called the "Pinnacle Pass." -- J. . . . — — Map (db m123988) HM
That this journey...is perilous, the deaths of many testify...as I passed the fresh made graves, I have glanced at the side boards of the wagon, not knowing how soon it might serve as a coffin for some one of us. Lodisa Frizzell, 1852 . . . — — Map (db m123952) HM
They rise in a cone-like form from the bottom of the valley to a height of from 400 to 600 feet they are round and quite regular in form, tapering gradually to a point. -- Emigrant journal entry (Sawyer) describing the Twin Sisters, circa . . . — — Map (db m123994) HM
"The Oregon road take up the bluff and follows the course of the (Snake) river while we keep to the left and follow the creek (Raft River) nearly to its source. ... crossing the creek we followed up the bottom" -- Byron McKinstry, Aug 1, 1850 . . . — — Map (db m123844) HM
"Arrived at Raft River, crossed and nooned. ... traveled five miles up Raft River and camped after recrossing it. Grass in abundance and plenty of wood" -- Cyrus Loveland, Aug 3 1850
Guidebook Available
Trails West Inc. P.O. Box 12045, . . . — — Map (db m123846) HM
"We traveled up Raft River 16 miles. The road, water and grass, good. Entirely destitute of timber, except a little willow on the streams and the wild sage." -- Chester Ingersoll, Aug 13, 1847
Guidebook Available
Trails West Inc. P.O. . . . — — Map (db m123848) HM
In 1811 the first white expedition to go through this area of the Snake River and the lower end of the Raft River Valley was the Wilson Price Hunt expedition from St. Louis to Astoria. However, the area was well known to the French and British . . . — — Map (db m123843) HM
"August 26, Sabbath."
"... We got a late start traveled directly across the valley before us, (Almo Valley) amidst the best scenery we have seen since we have been among these hills. South, a high range of mountains (Raft River Mountains) . . . — — Map (db m123884) HM
"After crossing (Cassia Creek) we crossed a swamp, which required considerable persevering to get through safely. Three miles farther we encamped on the side of a hill, between two ranges of mountains" -- Wakeman Bryarly, Jul 18, 1849
. . . — — Map (db m123883) HM
"By an easy ascent reached a summit and as gradually descended to a valley (Upper Raft River Valley) of sage and sand sloping to the south east. The streams running towards the (Great) Salt Lake." Byron N. McKinstry, Aug 3, 1850
Guidebook . . . — — Map (db m123886) HM
"We came onto the Subetts Cut Off road (Hudspeth Cutoff), or rather that cut off come onto our road which is the old and longest road." -- Henry Anable, Aug 7, 1852
Guidebook Available
Trails West Inc. P.O. Box 12045, Reno NV . . . — — Map (db m123882) HM
This shortcut to the California goldfields, followed by most of the 49'ers, came out of the hills to the east and joined the old California trail just about here. Opened by "Messrs. Hudspeth & Myers, of the Jackson County, Missouri, Company," who . . . — — Map (db m31638) HM
The Raft River Valley was used by Native Americans as a place to hunt and winter because the snow didn't lie in the valley and there was good water and plenty of grass for the animals. British and American trappers, Peter Skene Ogden, Milton . . . — — Map (db m123881) HM
"The moon just rising above the mountains, throwing mild light over the valley & opposite mountain, formed a beautiful scene of prairie mountain life." -- Hugh Brown Heiskell, Sep 3, 1849
Guidebook Available
Trails West Inc. P.O. Box . . . — — Map (db m124026) HM
A vast display of towering granite rocks (16 miles southeast of here) attracted emigrants who were on their way to California. A gold rush visitor, July 14, 1849, reported that "you can imagine among these massive piles, church domes, spires, . . . — — Map (db m31637) HM
One day west of the City of Rocks: Never saw such dust! In some places it was actually to the top of the forewheels! Fine white dust; more like flour. Our men were a perfect fright, being literally covered. -- Emigrant journal entry, circa . . . — — Map (db m124025) HM
First Overland Emigrant Party
"Left the river on account of the hills which obstructed our way on it, ... Road uncommonly broken, did not reach the river, distance about 4 miles" -- John Bidwell, Saturday, August 14, 1841
"We traveled about . . . — — Map (db m105832) HM
This was a major campground in the days of the California Gold Rush after Hudspeth's Cutoff brought the trail by here in 1849
Except in wet seasons, there was no water for 22 miles to the east. Parties often had to travel late into the . . . — — Map (db m124142) HM
Twin Springs is an oasis amid rolling hills of sagebrush; or as the early pioneers described "an endless sea of Artemisia". Wildlife, birds and people are drawn to Twin Springs' still water and rich grasses. Indigenous people traveled this valley . . . — — Map (db m124144) HM
Early California and Oregon Trail Ruts -- left by thousands of emigrant wagons as they ascended this bluff -- still are visible below this viewpoint.
In 1859 F.W. Lander's wagon road builders dug and improved grade that shows more clearly. . . . — — Map (db m123842) HM
The Council Bluffs area was the scene of such important events in Iowa history as the explorations of Lewis and Clark, the Mormon Trail, the Missouri River steamboat traffic and the railroad industry. Francois Guittar established the first white . . . — — Map (db m224579) HM
The Council Bluffs area was the scene of such important events in Iowa history as the explorations of Lewis and Clark, the Mormon Trail, the Missouri River steamboat traffic and the railroad industry. Francois Guittar established the first white . . . — — Map (db m224580) HM
From the early 1840s to 1865 the Oregon-California Trail was the most important route for settlers traveling west. Wagon trains camped at the Iowa, Sac and Fox Mission to take advantage of the spring and the blacksmith. They were followed in the . . . — — Map (db m47930) HM
341 entries matched your criteria. Entries 101 through 200 are listed above. ⊲ Previous 100 — Next 100 ⊳
