1720 | Villasur (Spaniard) attained Platte
forks, via South Platte. |
1739 | Mallet brothers went up South Platte
to Santa Fe. Named the Platte river. |
1804 | Louisiana officially occupied by
U.S.; Lewis and Clark began Rocky Mountain explorations. |
1812-13 | Returning Astorians, down
North Platte -- opened Oregon Trail. |
1820 | Long up South Platte. |
1823-24 | South Pass discovered.
Ashley's men extend operations into Upper Platte country. |
1824 | Smith discovers Great Salt Lake.
Fitzpatrick first attempts navigation of upper Platte. Furs taken
overland down Platte route to St. Louis. |
1825 | First rendezvous in the
mountains. |
1827 | Four-pound wheeled cannon -- first
wheeled vehicle to ascend Platte route and cross the Rocky
Mountains. |
1830 | W. Sublette and large party take
first wagons over the Oregon Trail, into the Rocky Mountains. |
1832 | Invasion of the mountains by
independent fur traders -- Bonneville, Wyeth, et al. |
1834 | First missionaries and scientists
over the Trail into the Oregon country. Founding of several famous
forts: Laramie, Hall, etc. |
1835 | First march of Army to the mountains,
under Col. Dodge, up South Platte. Presbyterian missionaries enter
Oregon (Whitman and Parker). |
1836 | More missionaries to Oregon -- first
women over the Oregon Trail. |
1840 | Last rendezvous. Jesuit Father De
Smet entered the mountains. |
1841 | First Oregon-California emigrant
train. |
1842 | Lt. Fremont's first
expedition. |
1843 | The Great Emigration to Oregon.
First wagons to reach the Pacific -- 120 wagons, 694 oxen, 200 families,
775 loose cattle. |
1844 | Five Oregon-California
parties. |
1845 | Kearny's dragoons up North Platte.
First regular military campaign into the Great West. |
1846 | 49° parallel boundary decides
Oregon question with Britian. Bear Flag republic in California. War
with Mexico. Donner disaster in California. |
1847 | Mormon "pioneers" reopen old Indian
and fur trader route up north bank of the Platte. Salt Lake City
founded. Post Route Bill passed. |
1848 | Gold discovered, January 24, in
California. Treaty gives the southwest to the United States. Oregon
territory created. Ft. Kearny founded. |
1849 | Overland rush to California.
Government buys Ft. Laramie. Cholera on the plains. 25,000 use the
Overland Trail. Roubidou's post founded at Scotts Bluff. |
1850 | California a state. First contract
mail service over the Overland Trail to Salt Lake City. |
1851 | Great Indian Council of Ft. Laramie
at mouth of Horse Creek. |
1853 | Overland Mail through to California.
First of the five railroad surveys. |
1854 | Kansas-Nebraska Act opened the Indian
country west of the Missouri, and abrogated Missouri Compromise.
Gratten Massacre. |
1855 | Brule Dakota slaughtered near Ash
Hollow by General Harney. |
1856 | Handcart Mormon migration began; one
disasterous company. |
1857 | Mountain Meadows Massacre of
Fancher's company by Mormons. "Mormon War." Overland hauling of
freight commenced. |
1858 | Gold discovered in Pike's Peak area.
Washoe silver strike in Nevada. |
1859 | Oregon a state. Movement to Colorado
gold mines. Stages run to Salt Lake City, on contract. Comstock
(Virginia City) silver strike in Nevada. The year of the
"Fifty-niners." |
1860 | Central Overland California and Pikes
Peak Express Company. Pony Express inaugurated. Gold strike in
Idaho. |
1861 | Telegraph completed October 26. End
of the Pony Express. Kansas a state. |
1862 | Gold found at Virginia City, Montana.
Beginning of Civil War. Indian disorders. Overland Stage abandoned
North Platte for South Platte "Overland Trail" roue. |
1863 | Great Indian War Council on Horse
Creek. |
1866 | Union Pacific tracks opposite Ft.
Kearny. "Bloody year on the plains". Fetterman Massacre. |
1867 | Union Pacific to Julesburg in spring;
to Cheyenne in fall. Nebraska a state. Texas cattle drives to Abilene
began. |
1868 | Ft. Laramie treaty. Victory for Red
Cloud and his Teton Dakotas. |
1869 | Union Pacific-Central Pacific meet,
May 10. |
1871 | Heavy cattle stocking of Horse Creek
range. |
1871-3 | Red Cloud Agency at North Platte
river, near Scotts Bluff. |
1876 | Final Indian treaty placing Dakotas
on reservation and opening the Black Hills. Annihilation of Custer's
troops. |
1884 | Peak of the range cattle
business. |
1886-87 | Invasion of western Nebraska by
Grangers. |
1887 | Deflation of an overcrowded
range. |
1888 | Gering platted. |
1899 | Scotts Bluff platted. |