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Central Overland Trail: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:UT-NV-CA Trails.png|thumb|right|350px]] | [[Image:UT-NV-CA Trails.png|thumb|right|350px]] | ||
The [[Central_Overland_Trail|Central Overland Trail]] (aka Central Overland Route, Central Route, Simpson's Route, Egan Trail, and Pony Express) was a shortcut of the [[California Trail]]. It was surveyed, improved for stagecoaches, and opened by the U.S. Army in 1859 from and Salt Lake City, Utah through central Nevada to Carson City, Nevada, a distance of about 650 miles (1046 km). This more direct route shaved off 280 miles (450 km), about two weeks travel time, from the length of the original California Trail.<ref name="COR">"Central Overland Route" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Overland_Route (accessed 13 September 2011).</ref><br><br> | The [[Central_Overland_Trail|Central Overland Trail]] (aka Central Overland Route, Central Route, Simpson's Route, Egan Trail, and Pony Express) was a shortcut of the [[California Trail]]. It was surveyed, improved for stagecoaches, and opened by the U.S. Army in 1859 from and Salt Lake City, Utah through central Nevada to Carson City, Nevada, a distance of about 650 miles (1046 km). This more direct route shaved off 280 miles (450 km), about two weeks travel time, from the length of the original California Trail.<ref name="COR">"Central Overland Route" in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'' at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Overland_Route (accessed 13 September 2011).</ref><br><br> | ||
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== Historical Background == | == Historical Background == | ||
In 1855 Howard Egan, a | In 1855 Howard Egan, a Latter-day Saint immigrant cattle dealer, discovered a route that stretched from Salt Lake City, Utah across the central Nevada basin and range terrain to the [[California Trail]] at Carson City, Nevada. The trail followed a series of mountain passes and desert watering holes lined up through the middle of a dozen of Utah's and Nevada's north to south mountain ranges. He used this route to drive cattle from Salt Lake City to market in California.<ref name="COR" /> | ||
Hearing rumors about the route, in 1858 the Army sent Captain James H. Simpson to survey and improve the route to help resupply Camp Floyd in Utah. The Central Overland Trail opened in 1859 to stagecoach service. The [[California Trail|California Trail]] mail route farther north along the Humboldt River was quickly switched to the shorter Central Overland route. As the American Civil War approached the [[Butterfield Overland Mail]] route was also switched to the Central Overland Trail in order to avoid capture in the southern states.<ref name="COR" /> | Hearing rumors about the route, in 1858 the Army sent Captain James H. Simpson to survey and improve the route to help resupply Camp Floyd in Utah. The Central Overland Trail opened in 1859 to stagecoach service. The [[California Trail|California Trail]] mail route farther north along the Humboldt River was quickly switched to the shorter Central Overland route. As the American Civil War approached the [[Butterfield Overland Mail]] route was also switched to the Central Overland Trail in order to avoid capture in the southern states.<ref name="COR" /> | ||
The Central Overland Route quickly took an important role in the American economy. Several stage lines could reach California from Missouri in 25 to 28 days of travel day and night using this trail. California gold was often sent east for Union army payrolls via this route. Likewise, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Express Pony Express] coast-to-coast 10-day mail service (1860-1861) and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Telegraph first transcontinental telegraph line] (1861) also followed this route.<ref name="COR" /> | The Central Overland Route quickly took an important role in the American economy. Several stage lines could reach California from Missouri in 25 to 28 days of travel day and night using this trail. California gold was often sent east for Union army payrolls via this route. Likewise, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Express Pony Express] coast-to-coast 10-day mail service (1860-1861) and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Telegraph first transcontinental telegraph line] (1861) also followed this route.<ref name="COR" /> | ||
== Main Route == | == Main Route == | ||
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:*[[Central Pacific Railroad]] 1869 Ogden, Utah to Sacramento, California | :*[[Central Pacific Railroad]] 1869 Ogden, Utah to Sacramento, California | ||
:*[[Denver and Rio Grande Railroad]] 1883 Salt Lake City, Utah to Grand Junction, Colorado (and Denver) | :*[[Denver and Rio Grande Railroad]] 1883 Salt Lake City, Utah to Grand Junction, Colorado (and Denver) | ||
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The migration pathways connected at the west end of the Central Overland Trail included: | The migration pathways connected at the west end of the Central Overland Trail included: | ||