Every Day Life Along the Trail

All aspects of pioneer travel Lots of links relating to women: cooking, foods, recipies, romance, illness, stress, etc.
Buffalo "Chips" John Nielsen recorded in 1856: "Our journey took us along the Platte River. Where we could not find wood we burned buffalo chips. As soon as the wagons began to make the circle for camp, the race was on."
Children's Chores Along the Trails

CLOTHING:

Civil War Fashion Bibliography: 1840-1865 Books, Articles, and Dissertations on Clothing, 1840-1865
Godey's Lady's Book: 1850 Fashion, Etiquette, and Nice Manners.... I'm not sure these were all followed along the trail, but fun to look at at any rate.
The Overland Trail Dress Invented by women, criticized by men, the "wrapper" was considered a public nuisance because the large skirts blowing in the wind would spook horses, and legislation was considered to make it unlawful to wear a wrapper in public without a belt or apron.
Patterns for a Pioneer Bonnet and also a Pioneer Man's Workshirt
Victorian Millinary These folks specialize in authentically styled and reproduced garments for the Civil War lady. Look here for pictures of authentic fashions.
The Wyoming Ranch Skirt The cowgirls of the Old West came up with a transitional skirt/pants outfit which was safer and more practical than skirts. (Other clothing styles on these pages too.)

COOKING:

The Buckskinner Cookbook Recipies for all kinds of goodies found along the trails: Including Bear, Beaver, Javelina, Skunk, and other meats, and also bread, wild rice, and "black pot cooking"
Chuck Wagon Cooking An Introduction and also lots of Recipies
Chuck Wagon Talk Along the Trail "Dinner is served" might have been better understood by the cowhand if he heard "Grab a plate and growl!"
Coffee Made Around the Campfire "Boil hard for an hour, then into it toss The well rusted shoe off a clubfooted hoss."
Cooking Along the Trail
Food on the Oregon Trail from Saleratus to "Just Plain Mush."
Military Food Rationing Includes directions on how to make hardtack
Preparing Meat Along the Trail

The Daily Routine of a Kansas Farm Wife in the Last Quarter of the Nineteenth Century This short treatise covers the daily routines of a pioneer woman at the turn of the century
Dentistry Along The Trails Ouch! Using gunpowder! "The tooth was hollow shell so I rolled some gunpowder in some cotton and placed it in my mouth, and got a match." 1864, Duckworth Grimshaw
Games to Play Along the Trail While moving along the trail, there wasn't much opportunity or time to play. This site includes some activities which could be indulged in, however, while moving along the trails west.
Handcarts of the Pioneers This site includes history of the handcarts, how to build them, and a materials list.
Music and Dance Along the Trails "Then the boys would get their fiddles and we would clear off the brush and dance and sing Scotch songs." 1862: Jessie Belle Stirling
Music Popular Before 1900 This chronologically arranged web page is intended as an overview of American History through its music.
Outfitting For The Trail Essentials along the route: from oxen to chamber pots
Problems with Illness, Stess, and Privacy
Soap Making So, you want to make soap?
Trail Medicine The state of frontier medicine was not highly developed and, as a result, infection and contagious diseases were very difficult to combat.
The Value of Money Here's an "Inflation Calculator." The $0.35 loaf of bread your Mom sent you to the store to buy now costs $1.45! Just plug in an amount and find its worth for any year from 1800 - 1999!
Wagon Provisions: What to take in your wagon for the trip along the Oregon Trail

Add your URL to this list!
Send comments, suggestions or inquiries: Overland Trail
[Overland Trail | Links | Virginia Dale]
Created and maintained by Elizabeth Larson
1996-2000