Pioneers

taken from Three Things the Oregon Trail Game Didn't Teach You about the Pioneers

Players of The Oregon Trail will remember that encountering a river was risky. Paying for the ferry was expensive—but trying to ford it yourself could result in the loss of valuable supplies or party members. Still, most players agonized over the choice for less than a minute.

While fording rivers in The Oregon Trail game is a quick decision, that wasn’t the case for the pioneers. They faced the same challenge: pay the toll for a ferry or find another way across—and maybe lose your life, your livelihood, or your family in the process. Pioneers who attempted to cross rivers on their own spent a great deal of time planning and preparing.

To cross, some pioneers would caulk their wagons, dismantle them, and use the wagon box as a makeshift boat. Caulking and self-ferrying was not preferred, as it was slow and arduous. Others would lash felled trees together to make a raft, although this was one of the most dangerous options a family could take. These attempts at fording rivers cost the lives of many pioneers and their livestock.

Did one of your ancestors cross with the pioneers? Let's find out!

Utah Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database, 1847-1868

Learn about pioneer life on the trail, foods eaten, games played, etc here. 
With a little family history exploration, you can find pioneers with remarkable, inspiring stories among your very own relatives.