If you have ever wondered what the 2,000-mile journey from Missouri to Oregon was like back in the pioneer days, The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center is just the place to learn about the harrowing trip. Located just minutes south of Portland in Oregon City, this museum and historic site commemorates the end of the trail, and gives a look into the everyday lives and hardships of these early settlers.
The hands-on museum is set beneath giant wagon frames and features costumed interpreters that guide you through the lives of the pioneers.
The museum is spread across several buildings, and you are going to want to explore it all.
From packing a wagon with the necessary supplies to take the several-months long journey to working on pioneer crafts like candle making, this museum is a fun way to explore history.
Along with all the hands-on exhibits, the "Bound For Oregon" film provides you with even more information on trek.
Created using journal entries and other historic records, the film provides a firsthand look at just how difficult the journey was.
There are so many items with which modern visitors are unfamiliar with, and figuring out how people used them is part of the fun.
This pioneer bathtub is just one of the many interesting pieces in the museum.
If you have ever wondered what life was like in the 1800s, this museum gives a pretty extensive overview of the tools and tricks needed to survive.
While you may remember stocking up on supplies when playing the Oregon Trail computer game, planning a trip in real life required a lot more thought and preparation than in the video game.
The Master Gardener's Pioneer Garden, is an expertly researched garden featuring heirloom roses and other plants that would have been present when the pioneers came in the 1960s.
This is also where the actual end of the Oregon Trail is marked with an engraved stone marker.
From the animals needed to pull the wagons to the food needed to survive the winter to the clothing that people wore on the mountainous journey, it was a harrowing trek and this museum will paint a realistic picture of the hardships encountered.
Plan on spending at least an hour and a half here to see all the artifacts and exhibits.
Admission to the museum is $13 for adults,
$9 for seniors (60+),
$9 for youth (13-18), and
$7 for children (4-12).
Children 3 and under are free. The End of Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Information Center is located at 1726 Washington Street in Oregon City.
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