What was the Oregon Trail?

Imagine going on a family road trip, but instead of riding in a comfy car, you have to walk 2,000 miles! And instead of stopping for snacks, you have to pack 400 pounds of bacon! Welcome to the Oregon Trail! In the 1840s, half a million pioneers packed their entire lives into wooden wagons called prairie schooners and set off on the longest, dustiest, and most dangerous road trip in American history. Join Mira and Finn as they travel back in time to discover how families survived this epic six-month journey out West. You'll learn how bumpy wagons magically churned milk into fresh butter, why pioneers used strong oxen instead of fast horses, and how the trail crossed the ancestral homelands of many Native nations. Plus, find out why exhausted travelers ended up throwing grand pianos out into the middle of the desert, and how they weirdly used bacon as medicine for a sore throat! Grab your wagon and get ready for a wild historical adventure—just watch out for those heavy oxen feet!