<p>Welcome to the first episode of American West Live! In 1844 the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party left Council Bluffs, Iowa with 50 members and 11 wagons, with the goal of reaching Sacramento, California, 2,000 miles to the west and beginning a new life of freedom and prosperity. This seven-month journey, ending in triumph with all 50 members surviving, in fact 52 as two babies were born along the way, and becoming the first pioneers to get a wagon to California, was overshadowed in history by the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846 and the Gold Rush of 1849. We are taking a deep dive into this inspiring story starting with The First Wagons to California. Interested in learning more? Read the whole story <a href= "https://historyexp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/S1E1-PDF-First-Wagons-To-California.pdf"> here</a> <a href="https://historyexp.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">History Expeditions Website</a></p> <p><a href= "https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8W4I0WKNanXqKDUF-84VF0OwR87B1XOr&si=gtmENxvUYz9P1Rib"> Our Youtube Channel</a> <a href="https://heritageparkmuseum.org">Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum</a></p>

S1 E2: Pioneers of the California Trail

History Expeditions

We are discovering American West's tails and trails. We are endurance athletes with a passion for history, bringing history to life through expeditions that combine historical research and adventure.

American West Live!

A bi-weekly minicast that deep dives into the best stories from the American West of 1840-1860. In the mid-1800s a massive migration occurred in America, east to west, fueled by desire for land, economic opportunities, and escaping hardships. Between 1840 and 1860, over 400,000 emigrants traveled the 2,000 miles from Missouri on foot, horseback and wagon and settled on American west coast. The stories of these pioneers, many of which are our ancestors, inspire us with their grit, survival, hardship and heroism. This series will discover those tails from the trails and inspires the next generation.