photo by Sean Munson

When my parents are in town (Portland, Oregon), I finally get around to seeing local areas of interest. Yesterday we checked out the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, which was full of Oregon Trail trivia. Here are some of my favorite bits.

1. Awesome hairstyles were par for the course ...
2. Emigrants didn't know how to handle their guns ...
3. Oregon City was a big deal ...
4. The first Oregonian woman to vote arrived via the Oregon Trail ...
5. The Oregon Boot was not something you wanted on your foot ...

There's lots more to learn at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, should you find yourself near Portland with an afternoon to kill!

I gotta say, this made me quite a bit more excited than looking at the official EotOTIC web site, which just seemed to be designed to frustrate and annoy. After way too long, I found this text which I think is supposed to sum up the Interpretive Center.

Beginning in the 1840's more than 300,000 people began their Oregon Trail journey, living and writing their stories, one day at a time.

Share in these stories with a visit to the dynamic End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Living history presentations, "Bound for Oregon", an experience in digital cinema, exhibits of artifacts and heirlooms from the trail and pioneer living activities provide a unique and one-of-a-kind experience.

Each visit to the Interpretive Center includes a time-specific living history presentation and "Bound for Oregon" show in a theater setting. Hands-on activites from pioneer life and exhibits complete the experience. Visitors spend an average of 2 hours at the Center.

That official web site, I hope, is not representative of the Interpretative Center itself.