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Video Overview

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Check out our awesome range of animal facts for kids and learn some fun trivia about our friends in the animal kingdom.

Fun Otter Facts for Kids

Check out our range of fun otter facts for kids. Learn where the otter lives, what they eat, what a group of otters is called, the names of various otter species and much more.

Read on and enjoy our interesting information about otters.

The otter is a carnivorous mammal in a branch of the weasel family called Lutrinae.

There are 13 species of otter found all around the world.

Some otter species spend all their time in the water while others are land and water based animals.

An otter's den is called a 'holt' or a 'couch'.

A group of otters are called a 'bevy', 'family', 'lodge', or 'romp', or, when in water the group is called a 'raft'.

Otters live up to 16 years in the wild.

Otters are very active hunters, spending many hours a day chasing prey through water or scouring the rivers and the sea bed. They mainly eat fish but also frogs, crayfish and crabs, some species carry a rock to help smash open shellfish.

Otter species range in size from the smallest Oriental small-clawed otter at 0.6 m (2 ft) and 1 kg (2.2 lb). Through to the large Giant otter and Sea otters who can reach 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and 45 kg (99.2 lb).

Four of the main otter species include the European otter, the North American river otter, the Sea otter, and the Giant otter.

The European otter or Eurasian otter, are found in Europe, Asia, parts of North Africa and the British Isles.

The North American river otter was one of the most hunted animals for its fur after Europeans arrived. Sea otters have also been hunted in large numbers for their fur.

Unlike most marine mammals, otters do not have a layer of insulating blubber. Instead air is trapped in their fur which keeps them warm.

The Giant otter is found in South America around the Amazon river basin.

The otter is a very playful animal and are believe to take part in some activities just for the enjoyment. Some make waterslides to slide down into the water!

Otters are a popular animal in Japanese folklore where they are called "kawauso". In these tales the smart kawauso often fool humans, kind of like a fox.

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Fun Otter Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Otters

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Check out our awesome range of animal facts for kids and learn some fun trivia about our friends in the animal kingdom. Fun Otter Facts for Kids Check out our range of fun otter facts for kids. Learn where the otter lives, what they eat, what a group of otters is called, the names of various otter species and much more.

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BioKIDS - Kids’ Inquiry of Diverse Species, Martes americana, American marten: INFORMATION

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BioKIDS - Kids’ Inquiry of Diverse Species

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Neovison vison

What do they look like?

Mink fur is usually dark brown with white patches on the chin, chest, and throat areas. The fur is soft and thick, with oily outer hairs that waterproof the animal's coat. The body is long and slender with short legs and a pointy, flat face. The toes are partially webbed, showing the mink's semi-aquatic nature. Body length is usually around 2 feet or 610 mm with up to half of this length being the tail. Females, on average, are smaller than males. Adult females weigh between 0.7 to 1.1 kg, while males range from 0.9 to 1.6 kilograms. Body length varies as well, with males measuring from 580 to 700 mm and females from 460 to 575 mm.

Where do they live?

Mink are found throughout the United States, appearing in parts of every state except Arizona. They are also present in most of Canada, including an introduced population on Newfoundland. Only along the Arctic coast and some offshore islands are they absent.

American mink have also been accidentally introduced to the British Isles, where they escaped from fur farms in the 1960's. As a non-native predator their effects on native wildlife there are serious.

What kind of habitat do they need?

Although mink are found throughout North America, they tend to prefer forested areas that are close to water. Streams, ponds, and lakes, with some sort of brushy or rocky cover nearby are considered good mink habitat.

How do they reproduce?

During the winter, female mink become fertile and mate with one or more males (who also have more than one mate).

Both males and females begin mating at ten months. A female's pregnancy period varies from 40 to 75 days. The young are born in late spring (April or May), with litter sizes usually ranging between 1 to 8 individuals. Each newborn weighs 8 to 10 grams and appears pink and wrinkled, with a thin coat of white fur covering the body.

The young open their eyes at three and a half weeks and are weaned at a month and a half. They remain with the mother through the summer until fall, when they leave to establish their own territories.

How long do they live?

The maximum lifespan for a mink is usually around 10 years.

How do they behave?

Mink are mostly solitary animals, with males being particularly intolerant of one another. They mark the boundaries of their home range using strong-smelling substances from scent glands. They are mostly active at night, especially near dawn and dusk. Mink are also skilled swimmers and climbers. In searching for food, they can swim up to 30 meters (100 feet) underwater and dive to depths of 5 meters. Mink dig their burrows in the banks of rivers, lakes and streams, or they may use the old dens of other mammals, such as muskrats. Mink may line the interior of their home with dried grass and leaves, as well as with the fur from past prey.

How do they communicate with each other?

Mink communicate using odors, visual signals, and sounds. They are fairly quiet, but rely heavily on odors for communicating territorial boundaries and for finding mates.

Mink have excellent senses of vision, smell, and hearing.

What do they eat?

The diet of mink varies with the season. During the summer they eat crayfish and small frogs, along with small mammals such as shrews, rabbits, mice, and muskrats. Fish, ducks and other water fowl provide additional food choices. In the winter, they mostly prey on mammals.

What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?

Mink have few natural enemies. They are occasionally killed by coyotes, bobcats and other carnivores, but their main threat remains humans. Mink, like most members of the weasel family, are aggressive and fearless predators. They do not hesitate to defend themselves against animals larger than themselves. Mink may be occasionally taken by birds of prey, or young in a nest may be taken by snakes, but they are agile, secretive in nature, and they blend in with their background, so they can avoid most predators.

What roles do they have in the ecosystem?

Mink are important predators of small mammals throughout their range.

Do they cause problems?

The only negative affects that mink might have is the possible competition between mink and humans for water fowl or other game species.

How do they interact with us?

Mink pelts have for years been considered one of the most luxurious furs on the market. Originally all fur came from wild mink, causing a severe strain on the species. However, starting in the mid 1900s, mink ranches were set up to help bring a more constant pelt supply to the market. Ranching was very successful, with the number of mink ranches in the United States reaching a high of 7200 during the mid-1960s. While the number of ranches has declined nationally to 439 (1998), a total of 2.94 million pelts were still produced (both wild and domestic mink), that were valued at $72.9 million dollars. The quality of a pelt, which affects the price, is determined by its size, color, texture and density.

body parts are source of valuable material

Are they endangered?

The biggest threat towards mink survival is the continued existence of the fur market. Forty-seven states and all Canadian provinces now have limited trapping seasons on mink, with the length of the season varying from area to area. Limits on the number of mink that can be caught have also been set in many places. Both of these strategies allow the limited removal of mink in order that wild populations will remain constant.

Another threat includes the destruction of mink habitat. Mink depend heavily on wetlands. Creating, enhancing, and maintaining such habitat allows for the continued existence of healthy populations throughout the range of the species.

The presence of pollution such as mercury and hydrocarbon compounds (e.g., DDT and PCBs) also threatens mink. These chemicals build up within the mink's tissues and can cause problems in reproduction or even threaten the animal's life. Closer regulation over the use and disposal of these chemicals is necessary.

Contributors

Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Allison Poor (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Kurt Schlimme (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

July 22, 1999. "National Agricultural Statistics Service: Mink" (On-line). Accessed Oct. 14, 1999 at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/other/zmi-bb/mink0799.txt.

Chapman, J., G. Feldhamer. 1982. Wild Mammals of North America. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Kurta, A. 1995. Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. Ann Arbor, MI: The University of Michigan Press.

Van Gelder, R. 1982. Mammals of the National Parks. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

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BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Neovison vison, American mink: INFORMATION

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Neovison vison Mink fur is usually dark brown with white patches on the chin, chest, and throat areas. The fur is soft and thick, with oily outer hairs that waterproof the animal's coat. The body is long and slender with short legs and a pointy, flat face.

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Raccoons are active-at-night, or nocturnal, mammals that live throughout much of the world, from North and South America to Asia, in wooded areas and big cities alike. During winter in cold northern climates, raccoons sleep for extended periods, although they don't actually hibernate. To prepare for cold winters, raccoons pack on extra body fat in fall.

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Beavers are the second largest rodents in the world, behind the South American capybara.

Beavers are powerful swimmers that can swim underwater for up to 15 minutes. As the beaver dips underwater, the nose and ears shut to keep water out. Transparent inner eyelids close over each eye to help the beaver see.

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Beavers are the largest rodents (gnawing animals) in North America and the second largest in the world, behind the South American capybara. Beavers are powerful swimmers that can swim underwater for up to 15 minutes. As the beaver dips underwater, the nose and ears shut to keep water out.

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These tough animals are solitary, and like to roam long distances. Individual wolverines have been known to travel 15 miles (24 kilometers) in a single day in search of food.

Their feet are wide and furred, webbed, and front feet have long, strong claws, which help them climb. They often follow wolves to scavenge the remains of their prey. Wolverines' thick fur is brown with two yellowish stripes on back.

Males mark their territories with their scent, but they allow several female wolverines to live there. Females den in the snow to give birth to two or three young each late winter or early spring. Young wolverines, called kits, sometimes live with their mother until they are two years old.

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Wolverines are large, stocky animals that look like small bears, but they are the largest members of the weasel family. These tough animals are solitary, and like to roam long distances. Individual wolverines have been known to travel 15 miles (24 kilometers) in a single day in search of food.

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Ondatra zibethicus

What do they look like?

Muskrats have large, robust bodies, with a total body length of twelve and a half inches. The tail is flat and scaly and is nine and a half inches in length. Muskrats have dense fur that traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy. Their heads are very large and their ears are almost invisible underneath the fur. Muskrats have short legs and big feet; their rear feet are webbed for swimming. Adult muskrats have glossy upperparts that are dark brown, darker in winter and paler in the summer

Where do they live?

Muskrats are only native to the Nearctic region, but have been introduced to the Palearctic and Neotropical regions. They are found throughout North America as far south as the southern United States, they are excluded from the southernmost portions of the United States by lack of appropriate habitat. The placed muskrats have been introduced to are Japan, parts of South America, Scandinavia, and Russia.

What kind of habitat do they need?

Muskrats are semi-aquatic and prefer locations with four to six feet of water. Muskrats are found in ponds, lakes, and swamps, but their favorite locations are marshes, where the water level stays constant. Marshes provide the best vegetation for eating and constructing nests and burrows. Muskrats find shelter in bank burrows and nests that they build. Bank burrows are tunnels excavated in a bank. Nests are made by piling vegetation on top of a solid base, for example a tree stump, generally in 15 to 40 inches of water.

How long do they live?

Although muskrats have been known to live to 10 years old in captivity, they probably live about 3 years in the wild.

How do they behave?

Muskrats live in large family groups with definite territories. If conditions are crowded, females will kick their offspring out of the group. Muskrats continue to live in large groups even when they fight amongst themselves. Muskrats are active at all times of the day but most active from mid-afternoon until just after dusk, and at night. Muskrats are good swimmers and can stay underwater for about 15 minutes. They paddle with their large, webbed rear feet and use their long, flat, and scaly tail to change their direction. Muskrats move slowly on land. They are affected by quick changes in temperature, and dry, hot weather is especially bad for them. Their homes and burrows protect them from the elements. Muskrats also have a special adaptation called regional heterothermia, which regulates the flow of blood to the feet and tail, allowing these structures to be cooler than the body core. This adaptation allows them to stay warm in cold water.

How do they communicate with each other?

Muskrats communicate by a secretion from their glands called musk. This scent also serves to warn intruders. They are capable of vocalizing by squeaks and squeals. Muskrats have poorly developed senses of sight, hearing, and smell.

What do they eat?

Muskrats are mainly vegetarians but will eat animals as well. Muskrats consume about one-third of their weight every day. Their digestive system is designed for green vegetation. In the summer they eat the roots of aquatic plants. In the winter, they swim under the surface ice to get to the plants. Muskrats also eat agricultural crops.

What eats them and how do they avoid being eaten?

Muskrats are excellent swimmers and can evade many predators by escaping into water or into their burrows and nests. They can remain under water for up to 15 minutes.

What roles do they have in the ecosystem?

Muskrats are very abundant in areas of good habitat, making them important prey animals for predator populations. By grazing on vegetation, muskrats influence the composition of local plant communities.

Do they cause problems?

Muskrats not only eat the grain on a farm but they have also been known to plug the drain tiles on farms. Muskrats have a habit of building their homes around dikes. These homes make the dikes weak and eventually destroy the structure

How do they interact with us?

Muskrat fur is important in the fur industry. Also meat from muskrats is suitable for human consumption, though it is not widely eaten.

body parts are source of valuable material

Are they endangered?

Muskrats are widespread and abundant. Populations remain stable even when they are being hunted for fur, affected by disease, or a target for large predator populations because muskrats have the ability to reproduce quickly.

Contributors

Toni Lynn Newell (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Baker, R.H. 1983. Michigan Mammals. Michigan State University Press. United States of America.

"Animal Life Histories Database" (On-line).

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BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Ondatra zibethicus, muskrat: INFORMATION

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Ondatra zibethicus Muskrats have large, robust bodies, with a total body length of twelve and a half inches. The tail is flat and scaly and is nine and a half inches in length. Muskrats have dense fur that traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy.

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Long-tailed Weasel ( Mustela frenata)

What they look like: Weasels have a reddish-brown summer coat except for their yellowish-white belly. They begin shedding their summer coats during early fall and replacing them with lighter colored winter coats.

Some long-tailed weasels are nearly all white in the winter time. Imagine a furry white snowball running around, that's the long-tailed weasel. This helps them blend in with the snow and protects them from hungry hunters. When the weather gets warmer the weasels trade their warm fur coats for shorter, darker colors. They are always in fashion and like to blend in with their area.

How big they are: Male Long-tailed Weasels are larger (13-16 inches in length; 6-16 oz) than females (11-14 inches in length; 3-9 oz). Their tails are nearly half the size of their head and body combined. It has a pretty black tip that looks like it was dipped in black ink.

Where they live: Long-tailed weasels live in many different places like the woods, and places with thick bushes. They are found in places with plenty of water and many rats and mice. Just like people who can live in the city or the country, they can live pretty much anywhere. Their homes are usually found in rock piles, junk heaps, abandoned buildings, and old burrows dug by mice, ground squirrels, moles, or chipmunks.

What they eat: Long-tailed Weasels are no picky eaters, but they eat only meat! I bet you would like that! If you were a Long-tailed Weasel you would never have to eat vegetables again! They eat mice, rats, voles, squirrels, chipmunks, shrews, moles, and rabbits. Sometimes they will eat birds, bird eggs, snakes, frogs, and insects. They use tunnels made by other animals to hunt for their food.

Behavior: Long-Tailed Weasels make a loud chirping sound when they are scared or they are ready to attack. When they feel friendly and meet another weasel they will make a low trilling sound, like a whistle.

They can be seen during the day, but are most active at night. Just like people, they like to sleep in. Weasels run with their backs arched like a bridge and tail held straight out. They also are great swimmers and quick tree climbers.

Long-tailed Weasel Tracks
by J. Wernet, age 12

Long-tailed Weasel Silhouette

Animal silhouettes available to purchase "Photo: National Park Service
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Long-tailed Weasel ( Mustela frenata) What they look like: Weasels have a reddish-brown summer coat except for their yellowish-white belly. They begin shedding their summer coats during early fall and replacing them with lighter colored winter coats. Some long-tailed weasels are nearly all white in the winter time.

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Learn what life was like for travelers on the Oregon Trail.

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The trail began in St. Louis
Most people walked. They had to be a baby or elderly to ride in a wagon. Sometimes girls had exceptions too.

People moved for good farmland. The land was very new compared to the east land.

The trip brought many animals. Oxen pulled the wagons.

The Oregon trail was a pathway to the west. The very hard journey began around 1843 and it lasted for fifteen years and over 50,000 pioneers went on the trail.

If you got caught with the flu or cold, there was no hope for you. You built your own grave.

Many times, pioneers would have to pay 100 dollars for a glass of water when they were dying of dehydration.

The Oregon trail lasted for EIGHT decades.

The Oregon trail was roughly about 2,000 Miles long.

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The trail began in St. Louis Most people walked. They had to be a baby or elderly to ride in a wagon. Sometimes girls had exceptions too. People moved for good farmland. The land was very new compared to the east land. The trip brought many animals. Oxen pulled the wagons.

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Find a summary, definition and facts about the Oregon Trail for kids. Map of the Oregon Trail and its landmarks. Dangers and hardships along the Oregon Trail for kids, children, homework and schools.

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The Trail Center's Merchantile Store is the place where you can select your supplies for your journey along the trail.
A pioneer's typical outfit wasn't terribly expensive; usually one or two small, sturdy farm wagons, six to 10 head of oxen, a milk cow or two. Plus all the necessary food, clothing and utensils needed for survival. Often heavy items such as furniture, stoves, pianos would be freighted to the West Coast by clipper ship around the Horn of South America. If such heavy things were packed in the wagons, they usually ended up left along trailside along the way.

To survive the long jouney, a family of four would need 600 lbs. of flour, 120 lbs. of biscuits, 400 lbs. of bacon, 60 lbs. of coffee, 4 lbs. of tea, 100 lbs. of sugar, and 200 lbs. of lard. These would just be the basic staples. Other food stuffs could include sacks of rice and beans, plus dried peaches and apples. Bacon was often hauled in large barrels packed in bran so the hot sun would not melt the fat. Each man took a rifle or shotgun and some added a pistol. A good hunting knife was essential. Farm implements such as a plow, shovel, scythe, rake, hoe; plus carpentry tools - saw, broad axe, mallet, plane. Seeds for corn, wheat and other crops.

A.J. McCall an early traveler on the Oregon Trail made light of how some pioneers tried to "take it all." He wrote: "They laid in and over supply of bacon, flour and beans, and in addition thereto every conceivable jimcrack and useless article that the widest fancy could devise or human ingenuity could invent - pins and needles, brooms and brushes, ox shoes and horse shoes, lasts and leather, glass beads beads and hawks-bells, jumping jacks and jews-harps, rings and bracelets, pocket mirrors and pocket-books, calico vests and boiled shirts."

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The Trail Center's Merchantile Store is the place where you can select your supplies for your journey along the trail. A pioneer's typical outfit wasn't terribly expensive; usually one or two small, sturdy farm wagons, six to 10 head of oxen, a milk cow or two.

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The definitive Oregon Trail resource--packed with maps, photos, descriptions, and fun facts.

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American migration into the Oregon Territory really began after the War of 1812, when we were granted equal access. At the time, we shared this territory with the British, Spanish and Russians.

As migration increased with reports of fertile land and the opening of the Oregon Trail, American interest in claiming this territory as part of Manifest Destiny grew.

The election of James K. Polk in 1844 inspired even more interest in acquiring this territory, as Polk embodied expansionist ideas.

The Oregon Trail opened in 1836, when Marcus Whitman and his wife (missionaries attempting to convert the Indians) proved wagons could travel into the territory. It was a long and difficult journey, filled with many dangers. But for those who were successful were rewarded with economic opportunity! Caravans began to move across the Great Plains, as this method offered the best protection from potential Indian attacks, and also combatted the loneliness and other dangers of the journey. People needed to carry all that they owned inside the wagons - check out the diagram below to see how they were packed.

By the 1840's, it was just the U.S. and the British who held on to claims for this territory. President Polk did not have much interest in waging war to remove the British from Oregon. We had already fought enough - and fortunately they had little interest in waging war with us. Polk devised what essentially worked out to be a "bluff" to get the territory.
The American settlers were excited at the thought of having this territory for themselves. These war hawks coined the phrase, "Fifty-Four, Forty or Fight". This was a reference to the line of latitude at the northern end of the Oregon Territory.
President Polk recited this desire to the British, who then counter-offered to draw a compromise line along the 49th parallel, which would be a simple extension of the northern boundary of the Louisiana Territory.
It seems that Polk had already decided that this was his real desire, and it made sense. North of the 49th was not suitable for American farming.
By BLUFFING at war, he was able to gain the portion of the Oregon Territory he wanted without further un-pleasantries. In 1846, our northern boundary was established.

Regrettably, establishing our southern boundary would prove much more difficult!

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American migration into the Oregon Territory really began after the War of 1812, when we were granted equal access. At the time, we shared this territory with the British, Spanish and Russians. As migration increased with reports of fertile land and the opening of the Oregon Trail, American interest in claiming this territory as part of Manifest Destiny grew.

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Two minute video overview.

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Watch this nine minute video for information about your wagon and wagon trains.

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During the mid-19th century, the United States, which began as a cluster of States hugging the East Coast, had its sights set to the west like never before. The California Trail was just one of a vast network of wagon roads and footpaths that brought Americans from the country they knew to the unfamiliar frontier - and eventually west to California and the Oregon Territory. This was the greatest mass migration in American history.

Crossing 10 States, the entire California National Historic Trail system spans approximately 5,665 miles. About 1,100 miles of trail still have obvious remains on the ground such as trail ruts and other remnants, many on public lands. More than 320 historic sites are located along the trail system. The California National Historic Trail helps tell the many stories of its diverse travelers: some seeking new farmlands, others seeking gold, all finding a daunting journey across some of the harshest land in the interior of North America. Despite the treacherous route, more than 200,000 people traveled west from Missouri along the California Trail during the 1840s and 1850s. This migration forever changed the cultural, religious, and architectural practices of formerly Spanish-owned territory.

The California Trail reflects a complex and layered story, one of mass emigration, commerce, hope and perseverance, but also of the amalgamation of cultures as Easterners (many of Anglo-descent), met Westerners (of Spanish-descent or American Indians) for the first time. The opening of the West had a profound effect on national policies, international borders in North America, and the eventual admission of California and Oregon as States before 1860.

The California Trail and the other routes that carried people west-- the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer and Pony Express National Historic Trails, offer extensive historic and scenic resources for today's travelers. Hundreds of historic sites linked via these trails and driving routes that follow them allows modern adventurers to experience the original path of the trails and learn about their contributions to mid-19th century westward expansion.

Placing the California Trail in the context of American landholdings and politics at the time of its creation only underscores its importance. The dawn of the 19th century brought great change to the United States. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 doubled the country's land. When the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, a victorious United States gained the large territory of Alta-California fulfilling what many saw as its Manifest Destiny to expand all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

These changes opened up vast amounts of under-populated and unsettled land "out west" that caught the imaginations of Americans further east. Most people had only the vaguest idea of what conditions lay beyond the Mississippi River, but tales of bountiful forests and fertile coastal farmlands tempted thousands. Spanish and later Mexicans, after Mexico gained its independence from Spain, had already colonized much of coastal California. American explorers, trappers and traders had contact with these Californians and brought home stories of expansive cattle ranches and ideal agricultural conditions.

Getting to the riches of California was, of course, the challenge. Though American frontiersmen forged various trails in the 1820s and 30s, none of these earlier trails were suitable for the average family with a wagon in tow - especially through the brutally steep Rocky Mountain region. Luckily, by the early 1840s, travelers discovered that the South Pass through the Rockies was practical for wagon travel. In 1841, the Bartleson-Bidwell party left Independence, Missouri and successfully used the South Pass to make the long journey to California. Thousands of others soon followed.

The 2,400-mile trip was far from easy. At the time, the entire journey took five to six months to complete. Along the route, travelers not only faced the treacherous Rockies, but also the barren deserts of Nevada and the frigid Sierra Nevada Range. Early on, very few supply stations existed and travelers had to be self-sufficient in finding food, water, and shelter. Those who took the trail quickly had to acquire skills such as building fires, chopping wood, capturing clean water, and setting up camp nightly. Extreme temperatures and threats of violence, stealing, mortal accidents, and American Indian raids were all constant concerns. During the late 1840s and early 1850s, cholera outbreaks along the trail killed travelers by the thousands.

Despite the risks, Easterners could not resist the possibility for a new and prosperous life, especially during the California Gold Rush years. In 1848, James Marshall, a young emigrant from New Jersey, discovered gold by accident. Word quickly spread, and by 1849, tens of thousands of people poured into California seeking the precious mineral. Some of these so-called "49ers" traveled via ship around the tip of South America at Cape Horn, and others crossed the Isthmus of Panama via mule train. Those who could not afford these less arduous routes flooded the California Trail.

Prospectors mined an estimated $216 million in gold from the earth during the first five years of the California Gold Rush. The miners quickly depleted the gold supply but moved on to follow gold strikes made elsewhere during the latter half of the century. By the 1860s, the railroad system in the United States vastly changed the way both people and goods traveled throughout the country. The Transcontinental Railroad connected the east and west coasts in 1869, bringing the age of the California Trail to a close.

Congress officially designated the California Trail as a National Historic Trail in 1992, recognizing it as a national treasure. Today the trail commemorates and interprets the rich heritage of the route through hundreds of historic sites, visitor centers, educational programming, and tour options. The trail itself was never a straightforward, singular route. Numerous paths, cutoffs, and detours made up the California Trail during its decades of service, and parts of the trail overlap with the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer and Pony Express National Historic Trails.

Signs mark the route of the former California Trail for those who wish to travel it today. Much of the original trail is now accessible by car. The National Park Service provides self-guided auto-tour information that suggests stopping points for its entire length. Brochures are available on a State-by-State basis and can be found online here or picked up at local tourism centers.

Many visitors along the California Trail enjoy seeing the deeply etched wagon ruts that still exist in many places. These tangible remains are poignant reminders of the numerous wagons that traversed the trail during the mid-1800s. At the Ash Hollow Complex (aka Windless Hill) in Lewellen, Nebraska, visitors can see the wagon ruts clearly. Windless Hill was a popular campsite for travelers along the trail because the area was lush with grass for oxen, lumber for fires, and fresh water. A visitor center offers tours and interpretive exhibits.

Farther down the trail, travelers would excitedly await their first glimpse of Chimney Rock in present-day Bayard, Nebraska. The clay and sandstone column is a natural wonder that once served as an important landmark in measuring travelers' progress west. Chimney Rock is a National Historic Landmark, and a nearby visitor center welcomes guests interested in learning about its history.

Fort Laramie in Wyoming is another popular stop along the California Trial, just as it was nearly 200 years ago. Originally built to protect the growing fur trade industry of the 1840s, the fort later served as a welcome stopping point and supply station. Indians, trappers, traders, gold seekers, overland pioneers, soldiers, and Pony Express riders stopped there or passed by this important military post.

Sutter's Fort in present-day Sacramento, California was the site of a Mexican land grant made to John Sutter in 1839. Sutter, a Swiss emigrant, created New Helvetia (New Switzerland), an agricultural empire, which was Sacramento's earliest settlement, the first settlement in California's Central Valley not made by American Indians. Sutter was hospitable and his landholdings were lush. Thousands of California Trail emigrants rushed to his community, including gold seekers. All that is there today is a fort, a large Spanish-style adobe reconstruction (based on an 1847 map) that offers exhibits, living history displays, and tours.

The historic resources along the trail are diverse and many, representing various cultures. There are historic buildings and structures in a variety of architectural sites and natural wonders. Museums thus offer exhibits about the California Trail. Visitors can explore the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho or the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, Missouri for a one-stop exploration of the trail's many decades and miles of use.

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California National Historic Trail---American Latino Heritage: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary

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During the mid-19th century, the United States, which began as a cluster of States hugging the East Coast, had its sights set to the west like never before. The California Trail was just one of a vast network of wagon roads and footpaths that brought Americans from the country they knew to the unfamiliar frontier - and eventually west to California and the Oregon Territory.

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Nothing contributed more to the success or failure of a Western wagon trek than the wagons that carried the pioneers across 2,000 miles of jolting wilderness. Pioneers needed wagons strong enough to haul people and supplies for five months or more. To outlast the rugged trail and months of wear, the wagon needed to be constructed of seasoned hardwood. Most pioneers used the typical farm wagon with a canvas cover stretched over hooped frames. A family of four could manage with a single wagon. It would be very tight on space since supplies would take up almost the entire space within the wagon. If they could afford it, many families took more than one wagon Most emigrants on the trail went West in their farm wagons, modified to take the punishment, while others bought rigs specifically built for the one-way journey.

A wagon had to be light enough to not over tax the mules or oxen that pulled it and strong enough not to break down under loads of as much as 2,500 pounds. For these reasons wagons were constructed of such hardwoods as maple, hickory and oak. Iron was used only to reinforce parts that took the greatest beating such as tires, axles and hounds. An emigrant wagon was not comfortable to ride in, since wagons lacked springs and there was little room to sit inside the wagon because most space was taken up with cargo.

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Nothing contributed more to the success or failure of a Western wagon trek than the wagons that carried the pioneers across 2,000 miles of jolting wilderness. Pioneers needed wagons strong enough to haul people and supplies for five months or more. To outlast the rugged trail and months of wear, the wagon needed to be constructed of seasoned hardwood.