Speech #1000050289

Thus. the westward migration of Americans resulted from a combination of circumstances and motives. but beneath it all was a desire to improve ones prospects for "the good life." whether expressed in terms of land. gold. or simply the freedom to pursue happiness. The most significant. longest. and most heavily traveled route of overland migration during the 19th century was that known as the "Oregon and California Trail." It was the sole artery of overland travel to Oregon. and became the most important access route to the California gold rush territories in 1849. Immigrants traveling to Oregon and California used a single trail as far as the Great Basin. After they had crossed the Rocky Mountains. those headed for California left the Oregon Trail and made their way to the Pacific by a variety of routes. The early pioneers were constantly searching for new travel routes. avoiding menacing barriers such as the Salt Desert. the Great Salt Lake. and the marshes along the upper Raft River. City of Rocks. sometimes called Silent City of Rocks. owes much of its historical significance to the proximity of these historic routes. The first practicable route to California north of the Great Salt Lake passed directly through the City of Rocks area. The City of Rocks area provided immigrants with a passage around the hazardous marshes on the upper Raft River. as well as good campsites. water. and pasturage for their animals. Their arrival at City of Rocks was usually an occasion for rest and an interesting respite from the arduous journey. As the emigrants climbed among the unusual rock formations. they recorded their names on the eroded granite faces. and in time these rocks became covered with the names of past travelers. Members of the trains not only added their names to the roster. but searched the rocks for the names of relatives and friends who had preceded them westward. As migration increased in 1849. the three supply centersForts Laramie. Bridger. and Hallproved inadequate for travelers needs. Thus. many emigrants continued on to the Mormon community of Salt Lake. In 1848. a new connection with the California Trail was established from the Mormon settlement to a junction south of Twin Sisters in Emigrant Canyon. This route later was known as the Salt Lake cutoff. although it was a longer route. The relationship of the City of Rocks area to the various emigrant trails provided the basis for designating the area as a national historic landmark [NHL] in 1966 by the Secretary of the Interior. The NHL program emphasizes the preservation of those nationally significant resources associated with our Nations history. National historic landmarks are afforded a measure of protection under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.