Party Like It’s 1843: Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the Great Migration to Oregon

I’ve written before about the Great Migration of 1843—the first large wagon train along the Oregon Trail. This was the first organized company to take wagons to Oregon from Missouri.  That year, over 700 people set out for Oregon, transported in more than 100 wagons.

Jesse Applegate, drawn by a nephew

Men like Jesse Applegate, Peter Burnett, Philip Foster, William Livingston Holmes, James Nesmith, and Peter Grant Stewart were part of the 1843 company. These settlers later became some of the leading citizens of Oregon Territory.

Because this was the first wagon train to Oregon, the Great Migration of 1843 is sometimes called the birth of the Oregon Trail. That makes 2018 the 175th anniversary of the trail—a milestone!

In honor of the 175th birthday of the Oregon Trail, the Jackson County Historical Society, based in Independence, Missouri, is sponsoring a weekend of activities related to the trail and to Jackson County’s role in its development.

What’s the celebration called? Party Like It’s 1843!

Here’s the full schedule of events for the weekend:

Friday, May 18th 6:30PM-9:00PM — Westward Ho! Down — pioneer dancing and music, with refreshments

Saturday, May 19th 10:00AM-4:ooPM — Live Action Oregon Trail Game — did you ever play the Oregon Trail computer game? Now’s your chance to try it live. Will you drown or die of dysentery?

Saturday, May 19th 10:00AM-4:ooPM — 1843 Lexington Avenue — pioneer crafts for kids

Saturday, May 19th 10:30AM-4:30PM — Oregon Trail Lecture Series, Brady Courtroom in the Truman Courthouse on Independence Square — get educated about the Oregon Trail (I’ll be speaking from 11:45 to 12:45). The speakers are as follows:

10:30AM-11:30AM  POTAWATOMI TRAIL OF TEARS — JON BOURSAW
11:45AM-12:45AM   HISTORICAL FICTION — THERESA HUPP
1:00PM-2:00PM      INDEPENDENCE IN 1843 — DAVID JACKSON
2:15PM-3:15PM        KC’S HISTORIC TRAILS IN 1843 — ROSS MARSHALL
3:30PM-4:30PM      KC’S HISTORIC TRAILS IN THE 21ST CENTURY — TRAVIS BOLEY

Saturday, May 19th 5:30PM — Pioneer Fashion Show — just what it sounds like

Sunday, May 20th 2:00PM — Sounds from the Oregon Trail — composer and musician Dana Mengel will share selections from his yet to be performed “The Oregon Trail Suites for Strings and Percussion”

For more information on each part of the celebration, check out the Party Like It’s 1843 website and Facebook page. Some of the weekend events cost money, but the lecture series where I’ll be speaking is free.

During my session (did I mention it starts at 11:45?), I’ll be talking about the role Independence played as a jumping off point for emigrants to Oregon, about some of the hardships faced by the Great Migration and by later wagon trains to Oregon, and about how I used historical incidents to craft my fictional accounts of travel along the Oregon Trail.

I hope to see many Kansas City area friends there! May 19th, at 11:45, at the Independence Courthouse