Oregon-California Trails Association

10/14/2026

Mormon Trails Across Wyoming and Utah will be putting on a presentation this Thursday, October 15th, at 7pm (Mountain Time) on Zoom.

Andy McCarthur will be presenting. He is a descendent of Daniel D. McCarther (pictured) and he will be telling the story of the trails (and other things) experienced by his family. Daniel D. McCarther was asked to be in charge of the 2nd handcart company and then he helped settled St. George, Utah.

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6084231645?pwd=WmB1VDwGPaku5IXJOaxI1rXbHUt6UQ.1

Meeting ID: 608 423 1645

Passcode: jF8Hf3

10/13/2026

Join Kansas City PBS for the free premiere screening of 'Lyda: Wyandot Warrior.' This is a first look of the upcoming documentary exploring Lyda Conley's fight to protect Indigenous rights and her ancestors' cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.

Additionally, attendees will be able join a post-screening discussion featuring film subjects and get a closer look at several of the artifacts that are a part of Lyda's story.

Kansas City's PBS station. Find television schedules, PBS Kids, PBS Passport and upcoming events for KCPBS.

10/12/2026

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., Boise’s Pioneer Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, dedicated the previously unmarked grave of Fort Boise pioneer Lorenzo West at Silent Camp at Morris Hill Cemetery. West was an early pioneer in the Idaho Territory, a mule-team driver, and a scout. He played an integral role in the establishment of Fort Boise in 1863 by hauling building materials, provisions, and other supplies from settlements along the Columbia River to what is Boise today.

West’s body had lied in an unmarked grave for 101 years until Rebecca Bromley, Marsi Woody and Nancy Daigle, members of Pioneer Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution noticed it in 2022 and began researching cemetery records. Woody, Bromley, and Daigle were spearheading the Monumental Challenge Project to provide VA memorials for 100 percent of all eligible and previously unmarked veterans in the three military sections of Morris Hill Cemetery. The dedication of West’s grave marks the end of a four-year effort to provide VA headstones for 78 previously unmarked veterans’ graves. West is buried in Silent Camp in recognition for his service to the U.S. Government during Idaho Territory’s early years.

West was born in Cayuga County, New York in 1834 and passed away at the Idaho Soldiers’ Home (known today as the Idaho State Veterans Home – Boise) on April 7, 1925, in Boise, Idaho. For three years, West hauled grain, provisions, am******on, and other supplies from the Columbia River for the U.S. Government. Each journey was about 300 miles each way through rough, rugged terrain. He supplied Fort Boise from its beginning and later served for many years as a government scout. Fort Boise was formally sited on July 4, 1863, where the Oregon Trail met new routes to the booming Boise Basin and Owyhee mining districts. Fort Boise was built that summer on a raised plateau. The fort overlooked the surrounding country and later became the city of Boise.

West recalled, “When the major decided upon the location of the new fort, I was sent back at once, this time to Wallula, for further supplies. I don’t know just how long I was gone, but it was a 300-mile trip each way, and I made about 15 miles a day.”

Event sponsors included: Pioneer Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution; Matoaka Chapter, Colonial Dames XVII Century; Idaho Chapter, Oregon-California Trails Association, Boise Valley Monument Company, and Boise Parks & Recreation Dept.

Link to the newspaper story is in the comments.

Pictures from Nancy Daigle on the "History of Boise, Idaho - 1863 to Present" page.

10/08/2026

"Sacred Red Rock" producers Sydney Pursel and James Pepper Henry joined OCTA's Travis Boley for a screening of their documentary about the return of the Kaw Nation's sacred red rock. This 30-minute Q&A followed the screening, which was held in August at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum in Independence, Missouri. Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/4tT-0lVcgcs?si=koasTIBf9ZiRJ9UF

10/06/2026

The annual Fernley Swales Clean-Up, sponsored by the California-Nevada Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA), was held October 3rd with an outstanding turnout of 23 volunteers—the largest participation the event has seen in recent memory.

This year’s volunteers represented an impressive cross-section of organizations and community members, including the Desert Pigs, American Legion Post, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, local Rotary members, Trails West, Inc., and OCTA, along with individuals who simply wanted to lend a hand in preserving this important historic site.

The continued success of the clean-up has become increasingly dependent on community support. After the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) withdrew funding and resources last year, nonprofit organizations, including the American Legion Post and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as private donors, stepped forward with financial contributions to help purchase the supplies and resources needed to keep the clean-up going.

The Fernley Swales Clean-Up has come a long way since its beginning in 1998, when just five people participated. The effort continued in subsequent years and, beginning in 2001, became an annual event dedicated to protecting and caring for this significant section of the historic emigrant trail.

This year’s record turnout is especially encouraging. Along with longtime supporters who understand the importance of preserving the Fernley Swales, we welcomed newcomers interested not only in helping care for the site, but also in learning more about the emigrant trails and the history that passed through this landscape.

The day concluded with another very special tradition. Janet Nolan generously invited everyone to lunch at the nearby Denny’s Restaurant as her treat. For the past three years, Janet has continued this generous gesture in memory of her late husband, Jon Nolan, who served as the previous liaison for the Fernley Swales.

Jon had a tremendous passion for the Swales and their preservation, and his dedication helped make this annual effort what it is today. He is greatly missed, but through Janet’s generosity and the continued commitment of everyone who cares for this historic place, his spirit of service and preservation remains very much a part of the Fernley Swales Clean-Up.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Fernley Swales Clean-Up over the years, and a special welcome and thank-you to those who joined us for the first time this year. Your time, financial support, hard work, and interest in preservation help ensure that this piece of emigrant trail history remains protected and appreciated for generations to come.

Kevin & Dena Moore

10/05/2026

Seventeen-year-old Louise Lithgow was wasting away from consumption when her parents decided to move to California in 1853. The family’s fervent hope was that a better climate would help cure their daughter’s tuberculosis and save her life.

Instead, Lithgow’s condition worsened.

She died along the way, and was buried in Wyoming on the north side of the Platte River “a few rods from the bridge,” which was called the Reshaw Bridge. It was not far from present-day Evansville, near Casper.

“Poor girl!” a cousin named Lorena Hays wrote in her diary on June 21, 1853.

“She hoped to get to California before she should die, but it was her lot to lie alone on these sandy plains," Hays wrote. "This morning, a grave was dug on the opposite side of the river where we followed her to her lonely resting place.”

Lithgow’s last words were, “Oh Pa, what does hurt me so?” Hays wrote, adding, “Her pain only lasted a moment for she ceased to breathe. We cross the river in the morning.”

During the funeral, an “evergreen from the mountain and sweetbriar seed brought from her faraway home were planted.”

As Hays crossed the North Platte on June 23, she had one last glimpse of her cousin’s grave.

“We had to leave her lonely resting place, where no friend will ever be near to look upon her grave, perhaps again,” she wrote.

See comments for the link to the rest of the story.

10/02/2026

Halloween is nearly here and we have spooktacular way to combine this fun holiday with historic preservation for your grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, students, and kids of all ages. "Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town" is new book by children's author Ben St. James. It has already made history as the first picture book to win First Place in the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards' Western Category, and the book is also currently a Finalist in the Kansas City Author Club's Annual Book Contest.

Cowboy Cooper sets out to explore a mysterious ghost town and is on a quest to find treasures for his school project. But what he discovers is even more valuable—a lesson from the past! "Cowboy Cooper & The Ghost Town" is a charming story that teaches kids the value of history and why it's important to preserve it.

Filled with excitement, spooky encounters, and a moral that resonates, this book is ideal for children who are curious about the past and love a good adventure. And the best part is that 50% of all sales made between October 2nd and 9th will be donated to the Oregon-California Trails Association!

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Cooper-Ghost-Town-James/dp/B0F5HXPG28/

There are also educational support materials available below:

Coloring Page: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zj797c4jD8BjbLeWGbo2LTmJtFiixhzd/view
Crossword Puzzle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dc7w6FgLUuf0hRXFGIL07N3tnFE-LRCw/view and answer key: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o5CLRowQcysWF0fT_Y1PtORaC-nuBHDc/view

09/30/2026

On Saturday, September 19, OCTA Past President Steve Allison spent the day at the REI store in Sandy, Utah. The staff warmly welcomed him and set up a table for him near the entrance for brochures and information sheets. He spoke with dozens of customers about resources from OCTA, the NPS, BLM, the Mormon Battalion Association, and the Mormon Trails Association. Visitors could photograph the links on the table and download the apps immediately. We truly appreciate REI allowing us to do this. REI has also donated over $18,000 to OCTA this year, and we may be in line for up to an additional $57,000 in project funding. Please visit https://www.rei.com/blog/public-lands and select "Stewardship" to help us gain additional funding for trail projects in Utah and Kansas. And a huge thank you to REI for helping to promote National Scenic and Historic Trails!

09/26/2026

Have you ever visited the Archway in Kearney, Nebraska?

09/23/2026

A weathered Wyoming cabin used as a storage shed turned out to be a 140-year-old Chinese laundry; after an eight-year rescue effort, the building has been moved to a museum for restoration. The original proprietor was a 49er who eventually made his way to South Pass City and Lander.

Link to story in comments.