Seeking El Dorado: The History of The Pioneer Migration on the California Trail
This sold-out luncheon was co-sponsored by the Oregon-California Trails Association (“OCTA”), the Nevada Historical Society, the Nevada State Genealogical Society, and the Dayton Valley Historical Society. The Nevada State Museum supported the event and offered free admission to the Museum on the day of the event. Our guest speaker wwas David Fullerton, Vice President of the Nevada-California chapter of OCTA, and a leading expert on the history of the California Trail. Mr. Fullerton discussed the history of the California Trail, the people who traveled it, and the challenges they faced. He also talked about the ongoing projects he and other members of OCTA are pursuing to preserve and protect the remnants of the trails, and the discoveries they have made in the process. Working in collaboration with the National Park Service and other organizations, OCTA has unearthed many new and exciting artifacts that add meaning to the story of western migration. On display were several actual pioneer diaries that have been preserved– priceless visual evidence of the pioneers’ day-to-day life on the trail.
The event was held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the South Gallery of the Museum, located at 600 North Carson Street in Carson City.