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The Trail archive is our growing collection of full-text period documents. There is a lot here; you could spend a career studying it. If you know of any material we should add (perhaps a diary from your great-great grandmother!) let us know and we will try to include it this collection.

Diaries

Diaries are first-hand accounts of the Trail experience written during the journey. Not to be confused with memoirs (See below) diaries are the best historical evidence we have of the true Trail experience.

Memoirs

Memoirs are first-hand accounts of the Oregon Trail journey written many years after the fact. They are not as historically reliable as diaries, but they still tell a fascinating tale.

Period Books

The full-text of books written during the overland period. Most books written along the Trail were guides designed to help future travelers.