Filming the Oregon Trail
In pursuit of a dream from Casper, Wyoming, to Eagle Creek, Oregon.
By: Candy Moulton 06/01/2009
Experiencing Shoshoni Culture
From Independence Rock we continued west to Devil’s Gate and the Mormon Handcart Ranch. Most 19th-century travelers passed by this location where the Sweetwater River slices through the Rattlesnake Range. A trading post, known as Seminoe’s Fort, was established here in 1855 and though abandoned and later burned, it has been re-created near the original site and we used it for some trading. The ranch, homesteaded by Tom Sun in the 1870s, is now owned and managed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has a visitor’s center in the old Sun ranch house that tells the story of the handcart companies. We visited these sites, as well as a small museum filled with ranch artifacts.
Our next day was filled with crossing the Sweetwater River more than once and encounters with other “travelers,” including a man with his pack horse, who was headed to California, and several Shoshoni Indians, who had been “stalking” the train all day but arrived in camp ready to barter for trade.
The night sky was studded with stars, the drums pounded, Shoshoni voices sang clearly, as the dancers—eventually joined by our students—wove through camp dancing, stirring up dust, sweeping by the fire. It was truly great to have these tribal members visit us and share their stories.
As I stood behind the cameras, watching this scene unfold naturally and fluidly, I could not help but think of the journal entries that describe similar scenes, for certainly Shoshonis—perhaps even Chief Washakie himself—came to the emigrant camps, where they traded, sang, danced and told stories just as his grandsons did with our In Pursuit of a Dream cast.
Destiny Awaits
In the 19th century, wagon companies separated at various points on the Trail: some people headed toward Oregon, while others went on to California. For our first week on the Trail, the teachers discussed which territory should be our destiny. Mr. Merchant and Mrs. Wragge insisted Oregon had more opportunity, particularly for families, while Mr. Vixie was obsessed with California and the idea that he might find gold out there.
Now our trip was a film project, not a real journey by wagon to Oregon, so we loaded wagons, livestock and people, and we began a long haul to Oregon where we would resume filming.
Leaving the Sweetwater Camp that had Split Rock in view, our route took us south on Highway 220 to Muddy Gap, then north on U.S. 287 before turning west on Highway 28. We detoured for lunch at South Pass, then continued on west to Montpelier, Idaho. We took Highway 28 southwest to Highway 372, then traveled northwest to U.S. 189. We followed that to Kemmerer, where we took U.S. 30 west and north through Cokeville to Montpelier. We were following the Oregon Trail all the way, often seeing the white carsonite markers placed by OCTA members.
Comments (1)
Thanks Candy. You guys did a great job. I can relate to the Wy winds. If you have more about the time and place where this movie will be shown I would like to find out. Would be great to attend. will work on it. Jeanie
Post A Comment