For the hundreds of thousands of Americans who pointed their wagons west in the 1800s, The Oregon Trail represented promises of lush farmlands but for some the ultimate price was paid in search of new beginnings. Disease, accidents, harsh weather, and dangerous river crossings claimed thousands of lives along the 2o00 mile large-wheeled wagon route. Many were buried where they fell, in graves that passage of time has nearly erased.
The Oregon Trail which begins in Missouri and terminates in Oregon has often been called “the nation’s longest graveyard.” Although macabre, this designation is no doubt true but the extent of the gravesites is not fully understood. That is why the Bureau of Land Management archaeologists in Idaho joined the Idaho Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association, state partners, and private landowners to locate historic burial sites using specially trained human remains detection dogs.
These incredible dogs have a remarkable sense of smell and can help identify long-forgotten graves without disturbing the historic sites. By helping locate and document these final resting places, the teams are preserving an important chapter of America’s westward expansion and ensuring those who made the journey are not forgotten.
