National Frontier Trails Museum

The three principle trails which crossed the West during frontier days were the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California trails. Independence, Missouri was a frontier village of only a few hundred people, but it was the principle "jumping-off" point for all three of these western trails. Founded in 1827, the town first became the eastern terminus for the Santa Fe Trail, and later as an "outfitting" post for the Oregon and California emigrants as well. The National Frontier Trails Museum was built with the surviving portion of an old mill that was first used in the 1830s incorporated into the design. The Trails Museum tells the story of the exploration and settlement of the American West. An award-winning introductory film introduces visitors to the interpretive exhibits which guide them along the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails. Quotations from trail diaries are used extensively, allowing pioneer travelers to relate their experiences in their own words.