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.

You may go directly to the collection, Trails to Utah and the Pacific: Overland Diaries and Letters, 1846-1869, in American Memory.

These online exhibits provide context and additional information about this collection.

Essays
Navigate the Trails with Photos and Illustrations

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

These collections and exhibits contain thematically-related primary and secondary sources. 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

Recommended additional sources of information.

Related Resources

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.

For help with viewers and players, go to American Memory Viewer Information.