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 About May 22

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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