============================================================ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> ============================================================ MIGRATION TRAILS Could you tell me where to find the trails the pioneers took to reach California? I would like to have an idea how my ancestors wound up in Illinois. Norma _____________ Dear Norma, This is a great question and one that I see quite often. There are a number of resources that may be of interest to you. Ancestry has a good collection of maps in the Map Center (http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/main.asp) that show various trails. Some of the more notable maps in the collection include: Westward Migration in the US, 1775-1860 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =299 Exploration and Settlement Before 1675 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =641 Exploration and Settlement 1675-1800 <http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageI D=643> Exploration and Settlement 1800-1820 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =644 Exploration and Settlement 1820-1835 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =645 Exploration and Settlement 1835-1850 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =647 Exploration and Settlement 1850-1890 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =648 Main Post Roads, 1804 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =556 Main Post Roads, 1834 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =557 Railroads in Operation, December 1840 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =550 Railroads in the East, 1827-1850 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =417 Railroads in the West, 1827-1850 http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =419 Routes between Fort Laramie and the Great Salt Lake http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/reference/maps/freeimages.asp?ImageID =729 There are also some great organizations and Web sites dedicated to migration patterns within the U.S. and the various trails westward. Here are a few of my favorites: The first two have a wealth of historical information on the trails west and include maps, stories, pioneer diaries, photos, and more. They are definitely worth a look, even if you don't have ancestors who followed these trails. Oregon-California Trails Association National Frontier Trails Center 318 W. Pacific (location) P.O. Box 1019 (mail) Independence, MO 64051-0519 Tel: 816-252-2276 Fax: 816-836-0989 E-mail: mailto:octahqts@gvi.net http://www.octa-trails.org/ The Overland Trail http://www.over-land.com/index.html American Migrations Web Site http://members.aol.com/gedsearch/migrate.htm This project records the names and migrations of individuals and groups. Visitors can browse the database and/or submit records. For a more comprehensive list of links see the 12/03/1998 Ancestry Daily News article, "Go West, Young Man" at: http://www.ancestry.com/dailynews/12_03_98.htm (Note: This article is over a year old and some of the Web sites may have new addresses or may be no longer available.)