Applegate Wagon Trail Reenactment - Sunny Valley, Oregon

Since 1846, the Applegate Trail has brought people from the eastern areas of Oregon, around the southern end of the state and northward to the Willamette Valley.

This route was created early on to enable the settling of the coastal valleys by avoiding the route along the Columbia River.

There was an impending threat that the British would attempt to claim the Oregon Territory for themselves.  In order for the United States to establish a firm foothold in the territory and to not be subject to search and seizure by the British dominated northern part of what is now the state of Oregon, it was necessary to create another route.

Today, the historic Sunny Valley's Applegate Wagon Trail Interpretive Center hosted a full slate of activities honoring our historic past. 

It was like stepping into the 1800's.  People were dressed in period clothing,

there were gunfight reenactments,

civil war cannon fire,

western music, and the fascinating Applegate Wagon Trail Interpretive Center was open to all.

The celebration peaked with the arrival of the historic wagon train, led by Wagon Master Dee Douglas, after a journey of several hours; arriving to great applause as it would have in the old west.

This gentleman and his granddaughter accompanied the wagon train on foot.  His mother told us that he makes all of his own period costumes.

Betty Gaustad the owner of the Applegate Wagon Trail Interpretive Center and MC of today's activities is at the podium.  Her brother, standing behind her  in a civil war uniform normally runs the Museum.  The Applegate Wagon Trail Interpretive Center on historic Grave Creek is a sleeper!  It has not been well-promoted up to this point, but we predict more and more success for this "must see" attraction!