emigrate west. The great migration began in nineteen forty-three. Large groups of emigrants assembled near the Missouri River and traveled west in caravans. Over one thousand people reached Oregon in nineteen forty-three alone. In the years following, the trail became more popular and within the next twenty-five years more than a half million people traveled west on the Oregon Trail. Some traveled to Oregon's Willamette Valley for rich farmland and others headed to California with dreams of finding gold. The Oregon Trail was about two thousand miles long (thirty-two hundred kilometers). Beginning in Independence, Missouri, and ending near the Colombia River, the trail passed through several states (in this time period only three states existed west of the Mississippi River) including Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. Along the route settlers were forced to cross many rivers including the Platte, Bear, and Umatilla Rivers. Settlers also had to prepare themselves to cross several mountain ranges. The Rocky Mountains and the Blue Mountains proved to be difficult tasks to cross. Long stretches of prairie and desert had to be crossed before reaching Oregon Country. The journey would take five or six months and would usually begin in the spring. The settlers would usually begin their long journey in St. Louis, Missouri. Here, they would load their wagons onto steamships that would take them up the Missouri River. Stuart commented that the Missouri River was about one-fourth mile wide and it had a very rapid current. The water was extremely muddy and the large number of dead trees floating in the water made navigation difficult. Other pioneers remarked about the strong current on the Missouri. Upon reaching their destination, the settlers would unload their wagons at one of several small towns. Many chose Independence, Missouri. At Independence, the settlers would make camp on a prairie just outside of town. This area would eventua...