The Oregon Trail The Highway of the Pioneers to the Pacific Northwest

This gorgeous representation of the iconic Oregon Trail was originally illustrated in 1932 by William Forsyth McIlwraith as part of the public arts projects sponsored by the Works Progress Administration. The later reprint was published in 1966 by Binford & Mort of Hillsboro, Oregon. Showing the vast area from Westport, Kansas City to Vancouver and Sutter’s Fort on the West Coast, the birds-eye view is a celebration of the courage and tenacity of the American pioneer. In the decorative border can be found images of important figures in Western expansion, seals of those states traversed along the several depicted routes, and profiles of wagon trails and soldier columns plodding through plains and mountains. The colorful landscape, billowing clouds, and oversized cartouche give a dreamlike quality, despite the monumental significance and serious dangers explored by the subject matter. Historical locations are noted in detail and include forts, natural features, landmarks, and cities