Explore the history of the American frontier west from the pioneers and Indians who led the way, to covered wagons, cattle and cowboys who followed later.

Encompassing the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Santa Fe Trail, the Applegate Trail, the Mormon Pioneer Trail, and the Southern Trail, the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) seeks to preserve the stories and the legacy of the 19th century American migration.

Our mission is to protect the Historic Emigrant Trails legacy by promoting research, education, preservation activities and public awareness of the trails, and to work with others to promote these causes. More about OCTA ...

Trails Head Chapter to Host
2012 OCTA Convention

• Registration Booklet (PDF)
• Online Registration (Eventville)

OCTA's New Documentary Film

Now Available on DVD

The multiple award-winning In Pursuit of a Dream is now available on DVD! Priced to individuals at $39, the set contains both the full movie as well as a disc of bonus materials not featured in the movie.

Find out more at Landmark Media's website, or simply contact Landmark Media at (800) 342-4336. Schools should check with Landmark for special institutional pricing.

Genealogy Pioneers wrote of their travels to Oregon, California, Utah, Montana, and other western locations in diaries, letters, remembrances, and newspaper articles. These accounts have survived in libraries and private collections. » Research genealogy and ancestry at Paper-Trail.org

Publications As part of its mission to promote education about the westward emigrant trails, OCTA invests a lot of its energy and resources to produce a wide-ranging set of quality publications. » Overland Journal » News from the Plains » Special Publications