Fourth Grade Page 4th The Oregon Trail

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School 720 Franklin Hastings, Nebraska 68901

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In Fourth Grade we study about the Trails which came through Nebraska, especially the Oregon Trail. Our city, Hastings, Nebraska is south of the Platte River, and close to where the Oregon Trail passed through here. Here is some information we learned about some famous places on the Oregon Trail.

Click on one of the landmarks to get further information.   Fort Kearny By Leann Fort Kearny was a place where people traveling the Oregon Trail would stop and rest. It was located near the Platte River. It was named after Colonel Stephen Watts Kearney who had explored the area in 1838 but the name wasn't spelled correctly. Most travelers only stayed for one day because all kinds of snakes would come through the walls, and would creep into peoples' beds. Most of the time when people stopped it wasn't usually just to rest, but most of the time it was because someone in their train was terribly sick. Fort Kearny was actually the most uncomfortable place to stay. Later on the fort became very useful to those who traveled the Oregon Trail because they could get supplies there.   Colonel Kearney The Platte River By Jamie The Platte River was important to the settlers. It supplied water, food and a trail to the West. "It is too thick to drink and too thin to plow," said one observer in 1834. It was wide and shallow (3 to 6 feet deep). It was a hazard for the pioneers to cross because of the quicksand and fast currents. The Mormon emigrants followed the North side of the Platte River while the Oregon Trail went on the South side. Fort Kearny was built on the south side of the river in 1848.  Below are examples of the Oregon Trail markers and graves around our city :

	This marker is west of Hastings and is a tribute to the pioneers who died along the Oregon Trail.
		The Campbell Graves close to Doniphan are marked with this marker.
	Susan Hail was an Oregon Trail pioneer who died and is buried close to Kenesaw. This marker is close to her grave. It says that she probably died of cholera. Click here for more information about the Oregon Trail from our school.