For this episode of The Long Road to Oregon, we follow one of the most infamous stories of the overland journey—the Donner Party.

What began as a hopeful crossing turned into a fight for survival in the Sierra Nevada, where early snow, starvation, and impossible choices reshaped every life in the camp.

This episode traces the full story—from the decision to take the Hastings Cutoff to the winter that held them in the mountains, told through firsthand accounts and historical record.

Now streaming on all major podcast apps.

#thelongroadtooregon #donnerparty #oregontrail #pnwhistory #historypodcast #westwardexpansion #americanhistory #truehistory

Sources:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/donner-history/

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/donner-primary-sources/

https://www.nps.gov/places/donner-memorial-state-park.htm

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-donner-party.htm

https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/donner-party

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Donner-Party

https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/donner_party/

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-donnerparty/

https://www.utahhumanities.org/stories/items/show/96

https://www.truckeehistory.org/donner-party

https://www.sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/donner-party/

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/donner-reed-diary/

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/donner-breen-diary/

https://www.library.ucdavis.edu/special-collections/donner-party/

https://digitalcollections.library.unlv.edu/donner-party