| The Oregon Trail holds a unique place in the history of | | | | any to start. |
| the United States. Thousands of pioneers used the trail | | | | Arrow Rock, Missouri |
| to populate the middle and western parts of the | | | | Although Independence, Missouri is technically the |
| country in the 19th century. | | | | beginning of the Oregon Trail, Arrow Rock is a better |
| Oregon Trail | | | | place to start. Arrow Rock is a tiny town of maybe |
| In the eighteen hundreds, the east coast of the United | | | | 100 people and remains much the way it was during |
| States had become overcrowded and expensive. For | | | | the hey day of the Oregon Trail. You'll get a real taste |
| relief, people looked to the opportunities in the then | | | | of the way things were by visiting the tavern and old |
| limitless west. Over the next 100 years, hundreds of | | | | seminary. One of the odder attractions is the |
| thousands of people undertook the six month quest to | | | | Calaboose. |
| find a better life. Tens of thousands died along the | | | | Arrow Rock has the rather peculiar Calaboose Jail. |
| route. | | | | Built of stone, the jail is particular because it is built for |
| The Oregon Trail begins in Independence, Missouri and | | | | only one person. By one person, I mean no lobby, no |
| winds its way to the Willamette River Valley in | | | | office, no nothing, just a stone structure with one |
| Oregon. Follow the trail from beginning to end and you'll | | | | wooden door. |
| pass through the states of Kansas, Nebraska, | | | | To get a better understanding of Arrow Rock, make |
| Wyoming and Idaho. | | | | sure to visit the Arrow Rock Historic Site center. For |
| Tracking the Oregon Trail can take a month by car, so | | | | lodging, there are four or five bed and breakfast |
| I am going to highlight certain spots in this and further | | | | options in the town. Campers can stay at the Arrow |
| articles. Arrow Rock, Missouri is as good a place as | | | | Rock Historic Site camping grounds. |