The Oregon Trail reflects an important part of U.S. history. An estimated 400,000 people made the arduous journey on the trail from Independence, Missouri to the Willamette Valley of Oregon – some 2,400 miles. This story is about two boys who played together as youngsters in Missouri, were separated by tragedy, then found each other as young men in Oregon. Their adventures along the Oregon Trail took place in two time frames, John in 1848, and Charles in 1856.