Collection Overview
Trails to Utah and the Pacific: Diaries and Letters, 1846-1869, documents life for those pioneers heading west during the mid-1800's. Included are the experiences of Mormons heading west in search of religious freedom and those who headed west as part of the California gold rush. Also included are maps showing the trails used, trail guides and images of those people who were on the trail. The collection was compiled from materials held by Brigham Young University, members of the Utah Academic Libraries Consortium, and other archival institutions in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho.
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Special Features
These online exhibits provide context and additional information about this collection.
Historical Eras
These historical era(s) are best represented in the collection although they may not be all-encompassing.
- Expansion and Reform - 1801-1861
- The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877
Related Collections and Exhibits
These collections and exhibits contain thematically-related primary and secondary sources. Also browse the Collection Finder for more related material on the American Memory Web site.
- California As I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849-1900
- Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
- History of the American West, 1860-1920
- Prairie Settlement, 1862-1912
Other Resources
Recommended additional sources of information.
Search Tips
Specific guidance for searching this collection
Search the collection using the keyword search, or browse the Subject, Author, Trail Name, Categories of Material or Title indexes. For help with search words, go to the Synonym List. For help with search strategies, see Finding Items in American Memory
Last Updated: 06/12/2009