| Date & Weather | 7/06/02 (Sat) | Check Out | 9:30 AM (PST) |
| Milage & Route | 235Miles (Portland, OR - Grants Pass, OR) | Check In | 7:30 PM (PST) |
| Motel | Motel 6 | ||
| End of Oregon Trail - I am at Last in Oregon City. That Long-looked for
a Place! Today I've finished another trail; Oregon Trail. I thought I had often traced this trail during the trip.  However, reviewing the route of the trail showed me that I had just visited
few places along the trail. In addition, visiting "End of Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center" in Oregon City told me that I had known only
a few facts about the trail. First of all, I've never known that the departure point was "Independence" in Missouri. It was just the city next to Kansas City where I stayed. If I had known it, I would have visited there and looked for something about the trail.  Second, the only place I had visited along the trail was Fort Kearny, Nebraska. However, in that time I did not realize the historical importance of that place. If I had known it, I would have spent more time there. Finally, it was the first time to know that it was in 1840s that frontiers used the trail most. Moreover,  I've never known that it was only about twenty years that the people used
the trail because in 1869 the first transcontinental railroad was completed.
Although the story of transcontinental railroad inspired me to go to some
places related to it, it will be impossible at least during this trip because
the memorial place is in Utah. In addition to these facts, the exhibits, presentation, and film in the Interpretive Center intrigued me. Now I realize tracing history is really interesting. According to some information of the center, there  are another four interpretive centers in Oregon. In addition, according to an official brochure of "Oregon Trail," there are 125 historical sites observed by National Park Service along the trail. Following these places would be interesting, too, because each place offer different perspective of the trail. |
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What I Learned Today - Manifest Destiny The era of Oregon Trail was also the era of "Manifest Destiny." That is, USA expanded its territory from Texas to the Pacific and north to Oregon by 1848. |
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