Oregon Trail Ruts facts for kids
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Oregon Trail Ruts
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_-_Oregon_Trail_Ruts_16-9-2014_11-06-06.JPG)
Typical segment of the ruts
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Guernsey, Wyoming |
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| Built | 1841 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000761 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | May 23, 1966 |
The Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site is a special place in Wyoming. It protects a part of the famous Oregon Trail. Here, you can see deep grooves, called ruts, left by thousands of wagons. These wagons were pulled by animals and carried people heading west.
The ruts are near the North Platte River, close to Guernsey, Wyoming. From 1841 to 1869, many pioneers traveled this path. Their wagon wheels, along with the hooves of their animals, wore down the sandstone rock. This created ruts that are now two to six feet deep. This half-mile stretch is one of the best-preserved parts of the Oregon Trail. It shows how much traffic the trail had.
This site is now a state historic site. It was also named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States.
Journeying on the Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was a very long route across North America. It stretched from Missouri to Oregon. People used it to move west and start new lives.
The first person to record this specific part of the trail was Robert Stuart in 1812. He was traveling east from Fort Astoria, Oregon. For many years, traders, trappers, and missionaries used this route.
In 1841, the Bartleson–Bidwell Party made history. They were the first group to take wagons across the Oregon Trail. After that, more and more people followed. In 1842, over 100 people traveled the trail. By 1843, this number grew to more than 900.
The trail was used heavily for almost 30 years. But in 1869, the Union Pacific Railroad was finished. This made it much easier and faster to travel west. So, fewer people used the Oregon Trail for long journeys. However, some parts of the trail were still used by local people for many years.
What the Site Looks Like
The ruts at this site are about 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) long. They are worn deep into a sandstone ridge. The pioneers chose this route to avoid wet, marshy land near the river.
The ruts are located on the south side of the North Platte River. They are about 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) south of the town of Guernsey. When you visit, you can see the clear marks left by history.
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