Merrill J. Mattes (1910–1996)

A guidebook/history with an interesting approach. The first part is a history of emigration to Oregon along the Platte River, with discussion of the number of travelers per year, how the traveling parties were organized, and how things went. The next part is a guidebook for modern travelers along the route from “jumping off places” in Nebraska and Kansas to Fort Laramie in what’s now Wyoming (off course people continued beyond Fort Laramie but it was through the mountains instead of show more along the Platte). The guidebook section has descriptions of historical remnants – sites of trading posts, river crossings, and landmarks. Both sections are heavily geared to contemporary accounts – selections from traveler’s diaries and letters; this gives it a quaint immediacy. The pioneers were religious; frightened of Indians (usually, but not always, unjustifiably); impressed by bison; intimidated by Great Plains weather; and surprisingly careless with firearms.
Very handy for a drive along Interstate 80. Author Merril Mates is quite readable despite impressive scholarship; he must have tracked down every single reference in dusty State and local archives. If you’ve driven through Nebraska you might think it devoid of interest; for other opinions try this book and Son of the Gamblin’ Man; Nebraska POW Camps; Prisoners of the Plains, Plum Creek, Attacking the Union Pacific, Ogallala, Great Plains Geology, and Pony Express Trail show less

This is Oregon Trail basics, pity it stops at Ft Laramie as the road followed N Platte much farther

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