May 22 in American History

May 22, 1843 — the great wagon migration west begins

About a thousand pioneers set out from Missouri in a massive wagon train, launching the "Great Migration" along the Oregon Trail. Families walked 2,000 miles over six months, burying loved ones along the way, chasing land and a new life in the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon Trail became one of the defining ordeals of American settlement.

Common Questions

What happened on May 22 in American history?

In 1843: the great wagon migration west begins. About a thousand pioneers set out from Missouri in a massive wagon train, launching the "Great Migration" along the Oregon Trail.

Why is May 22 significant?

About a thousand pioneers set out from Missouri in a massive wagon train, launching the "Great Migration" along the Oregon Trail. Families walked 2,000 miles over six months, burying loved ones along the way, chasing land and a new life in the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon Trail became one of the defining ordeals of American settlement.

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