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 Of course, the Indians found out about this place first. Long
before Messrs. Lewis and Clark took their little jaunt to the mouth of the
Columbia, the Oregon country had been the destination of choice for countless
numbers of transplanted Asians working their way down the coast.
Just as the
later generations of settlers would do, these early pioneers sought and found
their version of the good life in the lush valleys and mountains and deserts,
along the ocean and lakes and rivers of what is now called Oregon.
Today,
you'll find one of their ancient home sites within a few blocks of our
office. You'll find others just about anywhere you travel within our
state. Landmarks are named in their honor, memorials are erected
lamenting the sad ending to their way of life, and celebrations are staged to
preserve at least some of that heritage. They didn't call it Oregon but,
whatever the name, I imagine they loved it just as much as we do today.  OREGON
OR BUST!
Just a few weeks before this was first written,
a rental truck drove through Brookings on its way from somewhere to
somewhere. On the side hung a hand painted sign with this famous
exclamation. Supposedly, the cry originated just over a hundred and fifty
years ago when the first of countless wagon trains started on its long trek from
theMissouri staging area.
MORE
ABOUT THE OREGON TRAIL HERE.
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