Did the settlers know where they were going when they headed west? This site gives an explanation of maps that were used during the westward movement.

A 2,000-mile trek across a continent-with no idea what awaits you on the other side. Tell your students to put on their traveling shoes and prepare for the journey of their lives! In this lesson, students compare imagined travel...

Interactive map highlights the emigrations of men and women over the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails in the 1840s and 50s. Also features a timeline of migration, diary entries from individual migrants, and a flow map showing how...

A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which students explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"

Primary source information about traveling the Overland Trails, both to Oregon Country and California.

This site from the National Parks Service gives a brief history, and description of the California trail system which was used by settlers moving to California during the 1849 Gold Rush days.

A detailed 1806 map of the southern U.S. States and Territories and Spanish Florida showing borders, rivers, mountains and overland trails.

A good article from the National Park Service which recounts the history of the brief existence of the Pony Express. Read about the route, what caused the demise of the Pony Express, and what part of the trail can still be seen.

This site from PBS provides a map of the Oregon Trail, from Independence, Missouri to the Willamette Valley.

Use this site to view maps of routes on the Pony Express and also read a brief history.

A map of the Pacific region of the United States west of the Rocky Mountains in 1841-1850. The map shows the Old Spanish Trail from Los Angeles to Santa Fe, the Pioneer Route from the Platte River to San Francisco, the routes of Fremont...

A map of the Northwest Territory between the Allegheny Mountains and the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes to the Tennessee River showing the military operations and extent of settlement in the area during the American Revolutionary...

Learn all about America without ever leaving home. Select a driving tour, then find colorful information about what all the small towns have to offer. Many fun facts about famous historical destinations are given. Based on Jamie Jensen's...

On April 7, 1805, the Corps of Discovery left Fort Mandan and headed west. On their maps, the land that Lewis and Clark was headed for was indicated by a vast, blank space and the word, "Unknown". This is where this journey INTO THE...

An interactive site that has students follow the Lewis and Clark's expedition. As they travel west, they are able to collect objects on their journey and put them in their specimen box. They also take notes on their specimens so they can...

An interactive site that has students follow the Lewis and Clark's expedition. As they travel west, they are able to collect objects on their journey and put them in their specimen box. They also take notes on their specimens so they can...