Oregon Trail (Virtual)

Our Oregon Trail Education Trunk contains a ton of items that can help you tell the story of western overland migration in your classroom. It has boys' and girls' clothing, cookware, toys, trade items, tools, and more. Pair this with the amazing curriculum that weaves history, reading, writing, and storytelling into a cohesive exploration of the Oregon Trail... and you have a great experience for your students! 

Our physical Education Trunks are available for FREE for teachers to pick up at our museum. If that is not possible, our Virtual Education Trunks are an amazing resource for you! They are also completely free! This page shows you an example of some of the contents of the Oregon Trail Virtual Education Trunks. Fill out the quick request form (below) and you'll receive an IMMEDIATE text and email with the log in information for this trunk. If you have any questions, please call Jeremy at 307-286-8627.

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Rag Doll
 
No pieces of fabric were wasted by the immigrant women. Fabric scraps that were too small for clothing could be used for quilts or rag dolls like this one. Many young girls walked the trails with their parents, carrying their favorite little doll.
 
Washboard
 
Women did most of the clothes washing along the immigrant trails. Young women took the family's clothing to nearby water sources and used lye soap and a washboard to clean them. Clothes had to be well made so that they would not be destroyed on the rough washboard.
 
Compass
 
The compass was an important tool for immigrants traveling west. It ensured they could find the landmarks that would guide them to their final destination.
 
Candle Lantern and Candle
 
The candle lantern was a very popular item on the trails. This candle lantern is made of tin with glass panes. These lanterns were used instead of kerosene lanterns because kerosene was too heavy and combustible to take on the bumpy trail.

Candles have been used as a light source for many centuries. People generally make their own candles through the process of dipping, rolling, or molding. The immigrants often placed candles into lanterns they brought with them.