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Oregon Trail Ruts: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 42°15′22″N 104°44′58″W / 42.25611°N 104.74944°W / 42.25611; -104.74944
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP | name =Oregon Trail Ruts
{{Infobox NRHP
⚫
| nrhp_type =nhl
| image = File:Guernsey (Wyoming) - Oregon Trail Ruts 16-9-2014 11-06-06.JPG
| name = Oregon Trail Ruts
⚫
| nrhp_type = nhl
⚫
| caption = Typical segment of the ruts
| image = File:Guernsey (Wyoming) - Oregon Trail Ruts 16-9-2014 11-06-06.JPG
⚫
| nearest_city= [[Guernsey, Wyoming]]
⚫
| caption = Typical segment of the ruts
| lat_degrees = 42
⚫
| nearest_city = [[Guernsey, Wyoming]]
| lat_minutes = 15
| coordinates = {{coord|42|15|22|N|104|44|58|W|display=inline,title}}
| lat_seconds = 22
⚫
| locmapin = Wyoming#USA
| lat_direction = N
| area =
| long_degrees = 104
⚫
| built = 1841
| long_minutes = 44
⚫
| architect =
| long_seconds = 58
⚫
| architecture =
| long_direction = W
| designated_nrhp_type = May 23, 1966<ref name="nhlsum"/>
⚫
| locmapin = Wyoming#USA
| added = October 15, 1966
| area =
⚫
| refnum = 66000761
⚫
| built =1841
⚫
| architect=
⚫
| architecture=
| designated_nrhp_type= May 23, 1966<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=570&ResourceType=Site
|title=Oregon Trail Ruts |accessdate=2008-02-29|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| added = October 15, 1966<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| governing_body = State
⚫
| refnum=66000761
}}
}}
⚫
'''Oregon Trail Ruts''' is a preserved site of wagon ruts of the [[Oregon Trail]] on the [[North Platte River]], about .5&nbsp;miles south of [[Guernsey, Wyoming]]. The Oregon Trail here was winding up towards [[South Pass (Wyoming)|South Pass]]. Wagon wheels, draft animals, and people wore down the trail about two to six feet into a sandstone ridge here, during its heavy usage from 1841-1869.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/> The half-mile stretch is "unsurpassed" and is the best-preserved set of Oregon Trail ruts anywhere along its former length.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>


⚫
'''Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site''' is a preserved site of wagon [[Rut (roads)|ruts]] of the [[Oregon Trail]] on the [[North Platte River]], about 0.5&nbsp;miles south of [[Guernsey, Wyoming]]. The Oregon Trail here was winding up towards [[South Pass (Wyoming)|South Pass]]. Here, wagon wheels, draft animals, and people wore down the trail into a sandstone ridge about two to six feet, during its heavy usage from 1841–1869. The half-mile stretch is "unsurpassed" and is the best-preserved set of Oregon Trail ruts anywhere along its former length.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>
It was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1966.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Oregon Trail Ruts|url={{NHLS url|id=66000761}} |format=pdf|date=May 15, 1976 |author=Stephen Lissandrello |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{PDFlink|{{NHLS url|id=66000761|title=''Accompanying 5 photos, undated and from 1975''|photos=y}}|32&nbsp;KB}}</ref>


The site is maintained as a State Historic Site within [[Guernsey State Park]], which separately was declared a National Historic Landmark for its [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] structures, unrelated to the Oregon Trail Ruts.
The site is maintained as a state historic site, and was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] and added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1966.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2"/>

==History==
The trail was first recorded in 1812, when [[Robert Stuart (explorer)|Robert Stuart]] and six others came through there heading east from [[Fort Astoria]], [[Oregon]]. Traders, trappers, and missionaries used this route before 1841 when the [[Bartleson–Bidwell Party]] became the first wagon train across the trail. The number of emigrants grew from 100 plus in 1842 to over 900 in 1843. With the completion of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] in 1869, use of the trail as an overland route to the Pacific rapidly declined, although sections of it continued to be used locally for many years.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>

==Site==
The trail ruts are {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} long and are worn {{convert|2|to|6|ft|m}} into a sandstone ridge. The route was chosen to avoid the marshy ground along the river. It is located on the south side of the [[North Platte River]], {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} south of the town of [[Guernsey, Wyoming|Guernsey]].<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/nhl/find/statelists/wy/WY.pdf |title=Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: Wyoming |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="nrhpinv2">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=66000761}} |title=Oregon Trail Ruts |last=Lissandrello |first=Stephen |work=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form |publisher=National Park Service |date=November 24, 1978 |access-date=March 1, 2008}} with {{NRHP url|id=66000761|photos=y|title=5 accompanying photos}}</ref>

}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Oregon Trail Ruts (Guernsey, Wyoming)}}
{{commonscat-inline}}
* [http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Site/SiteInfo.aspx?siteID=27 Oregon Trail Ruts], Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites
*[http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/index.php/places-to-go/oregon-trail-ruts Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site] Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails
*[http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/NationalRegister/Site.aspx?ID=339 Oregon Trail Ruts National Historic Landmark] at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office


{{NRHP in Platte County, Wyoming}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{Protected areas of Wyoming}}
{{Protected areas of Wyoming}}


[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Oregon Trail]]
[[Category:Oregon Trail]]
[[Category:California Trail]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Platte County, Wyoming]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Platte County, Wyoming]]
[[Category:Wyoming state historic sites]]
[[Category:Wyoming state historic sites]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Roads on the National Register of Historic Places in Wyoming]]
[[Category:Listings related to transportation on the National Register of Historic Places]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Platte County, Wyoming]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Platte County, Wyoming]]


{{Wyoming-NRHP-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:00, 7 November 2023

Oregon Trail Ruts
Typical segment of the ruts
Oregon Trail Ruts is located in Wyoming
Oregon Trail Ruts
Oregon Trail Ruts is located in the United States
Oregon Trail Ruts
Nearest cityGuernsey, Wyoming
Coordinates42°15′22″N 104°44′58″W / 42.25611°N 104.74944°W / 42.25611; -104.74944
Built1841
NRHP reference No.66000761
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966
Designated NHLMay 23, 1966[1]

Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site is a preserved site of wagon ruts of the Oregon Trail on the North Platte River, about 0.5 miles south of Guernsey, Wyoming. The Oregon Trail here was winding up towards South Pass. Here, wagon wheels, draft animals, and people wore down the trail into a sandstone ridge about two to six feet, during its heavy usage from 1841–1869. The half-mile stretch is "unsurpassed" and is the best-preserved set of Oregon Trail ruts anywhere along its former length.[2]

The site is maintained as a state historic site, and was declared a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.[1][2]

History

[edit]

The trail was first recorded in 1812, when Robert Stuart and six others came through there heading east from Fort Astoria, Oregon. Traders, trappers, and missionaries used this route before 1841 when the Bartleson–Bidwell Party became the first wagon train across the trail. The number of emigrants grew from 100 plus in 1842 to over 900 in 1843. With the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1869, use of the trail as an overland route to the Pacific rapidly declined, although sections of it continued to be used locally for many years.[2]

Site

[edit]

The trail ruts are 0.5 miles (0.80 km) long and are worn 2 to 6 feet (0.61 to 1.83 m) into a sandstone ridge. The route was chosen to avoid the marshy ground along the river. It is located on the south side of the North Platte River, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the town of Guernsey.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: Wyoming" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Lissandrello, Stephen (November 24, 1978). "Oregon Trail Ruts". National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. Retrieved March 1, 2008. with 5 accompanying photos
[edit]
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