The Rocky Mountains, Emigrants Crossing the Plains - 1866

This idealized vision of the Oregon Trail was created by Frances (Fanny) Palmer for Currier & Ives in 1866. As there are essentially no photographs of earlier travelers on the Trail, we're dependent on views like this to give us visual representations of what it was like.

There are a lot of accurate details in this view, including showing oxen pulling most of the wagons. And unlike many engravings, the Native American men are shown in a peaceful posture near the wagon train.

-- This engraving is restored and printed by Old Oregon.