25,111
edits
m
corrected breadcrumb trail and headers
m (Text replace - "width: 147%" to "width: 100%") |
Brepouille (talk | contribs) m (corrected breadcrumb trail and headers) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[United States Genealogy|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Migration Internal|Migration]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[US Migration Trails and Roads|Trails and Roads]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] | '''''[[United States Genealogy|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Migration Internal|Migration]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[US Migration Trails and Roads|Trails and Roads]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' Central Overland Trail''' <br><br> | ||
[[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> | |||
== Historical Background == | |||
In 1855 Howard Egan, a Mormon 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" /> | In 1855 Howard Egan, a Mormon 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" /> | ||
| Line 9: | Line 11: | ||
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 == | |||
The Central Overland Trail went south from Salt Lake City, Utah to the U.S. Army base at Camp Floyd, near Fairfield, Utah, and then generally west across the desert and mountains to Carson City, Nevada, where it joined the California Trail into California. | The Central Overland Trail went south from Salt Lake City, Utah to the U.S. Army base at Camp Floyd, near Fairfield, Utah, and then generally west across the desert and mountains to Carson City, Nevada, where it joined the California Trail into California. | ||
| Line 59: | Line 61: | ||
:*from Austin, Nevada take US Hwy 50 west to Carson City, Nevada | :*from Austin, Nevada take US Hwy 50 west to Carson City, Nevada | ||
== Settlers and Records == | |||
No complete list of pioneer settlers who traveled the Central Overland Trail is known to exist. However, a variety of sources exist which can be used to identify most of them in California. For strategies and records you can use to help identity pioneers once they settled in California, see the [[California Trail#Settlers_and_Records|California Trail]] Wiki page. | No complete list of pioneer settlers who traveled the Central Overland Trail is known to exist. However, a variety of sources exist which can be used to identify most of them in California. For strategies and records you can use to help identity pioneers once they settled in California, see the [[California Trail#Settlers_and_Records|California Trail]] Wiki page. | ||
== External Links == | |||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Overland_Route Central Overland Route] in Wikipedia gives more history, maps, and further links. | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Overland_Route Central Overland Route] in Wikipedia gives more history, maps, and further links. | ||
| Line 70: | Line 72: | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Telegraph First Transcontinental Telegraph] in Wikipedia tells the background, construction, and impact of the telegraph along the Central Overland Trail | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Telegraph First Transcontinental Telegraph] in Wikipedia tells the background, construction, and impact of the telegraph along the Central Overland Trail | ||
== References == | |||
{{reflist}} {{California|California}} {{Nevada|Nevada}} {{Utah|Utah}} </div> | {{reflist}} {{California|California}} {{Nevada|Nevada}} {{Utah|Utah}} </div> | ||
[[Category:US_Migration_Trails_and_Roads]] [[Category:California Migration Routes]] [[Category:Nevada Migration Routes]] [[Category:Utah Migration Routes]] | [[Category:US_Migration_Trails_and_Roads]] [[Category:California Migration Routes]] [[Category:Nevada Migration Routes]] [[Category:Utah Migration Routes]] | ||