Traveling Through Nebraska: The Fort Kearny Expedition
The Fort Kearny Expedition, led by Brigham Young, was a pivotal event in the history of Nebraska, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Oregon Trail and the establishment of the Mormon Trail. In 1847, Brigham Young, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led an expedition to the Salt Lake Valley, intending to establish a new home for his followers. To ensure the success of this massive undertaking, Young chose to travel the Oregon Trail, a route that traversed the Great Plains, including present-day Nebraska.
Prior to embarking on the journey, Young selected a team of pioneers to explore the Oregon Trail and prepare the route for the larger company of Mormons, estimated to be around 2,000 strong. This initial expedition consisted of about 160 men, around 70 wagons, and a number of livestock. However, the primary goal of the Fort Kearny Expedition was not only to prepare the route but to establish a fortified settlement that could serve as a resting point for the main party. They sought to establish a forward base, capable of providing support for the westward-bound party.
On April 14, 1847, the expedition set out from Winter Quarters, located near present-day Omaha, Nebraska. Traveling northwest along the Missouri River, they eventually reached the point where the Little Blue River empties into the Platte River. It was at this point, near present-day Kearney, Nebraska, that the party established Fort Kearny. This fort, established on June 10, 1847, was strategically located at the point where travelers would cross the Little Blue River and enter the 'South Platte Divide.' This natural landform diverts water to either the South Platte River or the Platte River, allowing for easier crossing.
The party then established an unloading and loading point about three miles south of Fort Kearny at the site of an old Pawnee village. Young named this settlement 'Fort Kearny' after the local US Army outpost nearby, which had been named after General Stephen Watts Kearny. At the Fort, they built houses, sheds, stores, a gristmill and blacksmith shop. Leaving a group of volunteers to construct and man the fort, Young then took a party of about thirty and scouted ahead to determine a favorable route for the main party.
Traveling northwest, the forward party eventually reached Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming. At the fort, they encountered friendly trappers and learned valuable information about the western trail ahead. After continuing westward and following the South Pass through the Rocky Mountains, the forward party returned to Fort Kearny on July 27, 1847, convinced that the route would work.
This journey set the stage for the large-scale movement of Brigham Young and the entire Mormon population westward along the Oregon and Mormon trails, further strengthening the connections between Nebraska and the vast network of early westward American travel. Following this trail allowed subsequent groups to develop easier connections between the Great Plains and the interior of the American West.
Ultimately, following Young's lead and utilizing the route and settlements established during the Fort Kearny Expedition, about 2,000 Mormon pioneers were able to complete the westward journey. This party included the largest group of pioneers who ever made the trip along the Oregon and Mormon trails.
While Fort Kearny, established as an important rest and way-station, played a crucial role in this westward journey, this expedition became symbolic of the broader process of western exploration and development in Nebraska during that era.
Prior to embarking on the journey, Young selected a team of pioneers to explore the Oregon Trail and prepare the route for the larger company of Mormons, estimated to be around 2,000 strong. This initial expedition consisted of about 160 men, around 70 wagons, and a number of livestock. However, the primary goal of the Fort Kearny Expedition was not only to prepare the route but to establish a fortified settlement that could serve as a resting point for the main party. They sought to establish a forward base, capable of providing support for the westward-bound party.
On April 14, 1847, the expedition set out from Winter Quarters, located near present-day Omaha, Nebraska. Traveling northwest along the Missouri River, they eventually reached the point where the Little Blue River empties into the Platte River. It was at this point, near present-day Kearney, Nebraska, that the party established Fort Kearny. This fort, established on June 10, 1847, was strategically located at the point where travelers would cross the Little Blue River and enter the 'South Platte Divide.' This natural landform diverts water to either the South Platte River or the Platte River, allowing for easier crossing.
The party then established an unloading and loading point about three miles south of Fort Kearny at the site of an old Pawnee village. Young named this settlement 'Fort Kearny' after the local US Army outpost nearby, which had been named after General Stephen Watts Kearny. At the Fort, they built houses, sheds, stores, a gristmill and blacksmith shop. Leaving a group of volunteers to construct and man the fort, Young then took a party of about thirty and scouted ahead to determine a favorable route for the main party.
Traveling northwest, the forward party eventually reached Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming. At the fort, they encountered friendly trappers and learned valuable information about the western trail ahead. After continuing westward and following the South Pass through the Rocky Mountains, the forward party returned to Fort Kearny on July 27, 1847, convinced that the route would work.
This journey set the stage for the large-scale movement of Brigham Young and the entire Mormon population westward along the Oregon and Mormon trails, further strengthening the connections between Nebraska and the vast network of early westward American travel. Following this trail allowed subsequent groups to develop easier connections between the Great Plains and the interior of the American West.
Ultimately, following Young's lead and utilizing the route and settlements established during the Fort Kearny Expedition, about 2,000 Mormon pioneers were able to complete the westward journey. This party included the largest group of pioneers who ever made the trip along the Oregon and Mormon trails.
While Fort Kearny, established as an important rest and way-station, played a crucial role in this westward journey, this expedition became symbolic of the broader process of western exploration and development in Nebraska during that era.
