The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

For our final activity, we will be taking a field trip to Oregon City! Oregon City is the ending point for the Trail, and has a great hands on exhibit of the Trail and its many facets. Our activities at the Interpretive Center will include:

• Bound for Oregon is a 30 minute film that recounts the diaries of four actual emigrants. It is narrated by Dr. John McLoughlin and gives a good personal view of the journey through the eyes of the pioneers and Native Americans.
• Our History Talks cover a variety of 19th century topics. The Interpretive Staff offers these live 10-20 minute programs feature topics that relate to the history of Oregon, the Oregon Trail and general topics of the time.
• The Missouri Provisioners' Depot Presentation lasts approximately 45 minutes. This is our main live presentation and the Interpreter covers why people chose to travel to Oregon, what they took with them and some of the challenges they encountered. There are a variety of props in the Depot, including some things that came across the Oregon Trail.
• The Oregon City galleries host changing exhibits drawn from our collection of artifacts. The Oregon City gallery is at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

Questions to think about and address after returning from the Oregon City Interpretive Center:

• What was your favorite aspect of the field trip? Why?
• How have your beliefs changed over the course of this entire two week unit?

Students' Blog:
Alex Dunder-Mifflin