Overland Trails, Wagon Migration, and Stage Routes (1840–1869)

1. Bartleson–Bidwell Party organizes for overland emigration

   May 18, 1841Labels: Bartleson Bidwell, Western Emigration

   • Bartleson Bidwell
   • California Trail

2. Elijah White leads first large Oregon wagon train

   May 16, 1842Labels: Elijah White, Oregon wagon

   • Oregon Trail
   • Oregon Enc

3. “Great Migration” wagon train departs for Oregon

   May 1, 1843Labels: Great Migration, Oregon Trail

   • Oregon Trail

4. Donner-Reed Party departs Independence for California

   May 12, 1846Labels: Donner Reed, California Trail

   • Donner Party
   • PBS Donner

5. Mormon pioneers arrive in the Salt Lake Valley

   Jul 24, 1847Labels: Mormon pioneers, Salt Lake

   • LOC T I
   • Gilder Lehr

6. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends U.S.–Mexico War

   Feb 2, 1848Labels: Treaty of, U S

   • Britannica
   • Natl Archives

7. Fort Laramie Treaty establishes safe passage framework

   Sep 17, 1851Labels: Fort Laramie, Plains Nations

   • Fort Laramie
   • UND Docs

8. Mountain Meadows Massacre strikes southern emigrant route

   Sep 7, 1857Labels: Mountain Meadows, Baker Fancher

   • MMM

9. Butterfield Overland Mail begins first service run

   Sep 16, 1858Labels: Butterfield Overland, stage route

   • NPS Fort Smith
   • Butterfield

10. First Butterfield east-to-west run reaches San Francisco

    Oct 10, 1858Labels: Butterfield first, San Francisco

    • NPS Fort Smith

11. Pony Express begins service from St. Joseph

    Apr 3, 1860Labels: Pony Express, St Joseph

    • Britannica
    • NPS Pony

12. Transcontinental telegraph completed at Salt Lake City

    Oct 24, 1861Labels: Transcontinental telegraph, Salt Lake

    • Telegraph
    • Pony Facts

13. Golden Spike ceremony completes first transcontinental railroad

    May 10, 1869Labels: First Transcontinental, Golden Spike

    • LOC May 10
    • NPS Golden Spike