Blazing a Wagon Trail to Oregon

by Lloyd W. Coffman

Blazing a Wagon Trail to Oregon is the story of how a determined group of American pioneers set out on their own to accomplish what had never been done before. They would move their families on wheeled vehicles all the way from the settled frontier in Missouri to the far Pacific shore. Their incentive was simple enough. Times were tough in 1843 and they had heard of a lush new land existing in a place called Oregon just asking to be settled by hard-working farmers. A new life awaited them just over the horizon. But, none of them knew what a formidable horizon it was.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

184 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1993

Reviews

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book sat on my shelf for close to 20 years. It took me actually following the Oregon Trail to read about the OT again. I had assumed a weekly account would be dry and long-winded, but I was completely wrong! This was an excellent vignette of each week of the original 1,000 person "migration" that started it all, with witty and amusing commentary. Each week was 3-7 pages, so easily done in a quick stint before bed. And it was definitely a trip to read about the pioneers traveling the areas I was on. I can't believe their fortitude (related: the amusing chapter at the end "what kind of people were the pioneers" was exactly what you'd expect). If you're interested in the OT, this was definitely worth a read.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lives up to its title of giving a good account week by week as the first wave of emigrants left Independence Missouri and travel west to Oregon in 1843. Coffman quotes often from 4 different diaries written during this first wagon trail west. There are some short statements and some wonderful long descriptions of different places. The only thing lacking would be some sort of acknowledgement of present places so one could find them on a map of today. I would recommend this book as a starter book. I shall read an account of a later travel when the road was better established.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, well written with many quotes from diaries of the first emigrants to Oregon.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with the 1843 trek documented by the people going west. For readers in general, researchers and writers this book documents the "Great Migration," and some of the families involved.