This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Donner Party and Graves Saga Through Death Valley Trials
A look back from 1849 at two Illinois groups the Donner and Graves parties who sought a shorter California route. They faced desert thirst famine and deadly snow on the Hastings Cut-off leading to starvation cannibalism and eventual relief journeys to Sutter’s fort with 18 of 81 reaching California.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
MO Scott Watson
California
Donner
Illinois
Oregon Trails
Great Salt Lake
Promised Land
Donnery Lady
Springfield
Ail
High
Sierras
Jayhasvker
Galesbourg
Ill
Death Valley
Mexico
Pacific
Oast
Golden West
James
Qionver
George
Jacob
Reed
Eliza
Virgina Reed
Eliza Donner
Edwin Bryant
Nebraska
Fort Laramie
Fort Bridger
Donners
Fort Hall
Humboldt River
Nevada
Weber Canyon
Hasting
Graves
Lacon
W. F. Graves
Jay Fosdick
John Snyder
Virginia Reed
Snyder
Donner, Lake
Sutter
Donner Lake
Ellsworth
Sacramento
Sutter's Fort