National Oregon/California Trail Center, Montpelier, ID

Montpelier, Idaho was once a stop for pioneers traveling on the Oregon or California Trails. The city of Montpelier was settled by the Mormons in 1863 while they were traveling along the Oregon Trail. This area is located in the south eastern part of the State of Idaho in a predominant farming region. It is close to the Utah border.

The town was known as Clover Creek by the first Oregon Trail pioneers. The name changed to Belmont later on, but was renamed by Brigham Young himself for a town in his beloved Vermont. The railroad came to Montpelier in 1892 and there was a terminal located in Montpelier until 1972. The Mormons built a temple in the city.

Famous outlaws of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch robbed a bank in Montpelier. It has been speculated that they needed the money to bail out a gang member. There is a commemorative plaque on Washington Street.

The National Oregon/California Trail Center offers a unique glimpse into the past of these hardy pioneers. They have an interactive indoor wagon train experience at the center. There are live actors and accurate interpretive areas for visitors to enjoy. Guests get to view a gun shop, mercantile and ride in a covered wagon. There is also a group of wagons that have been circled, just like the pioneers would have done at night. This experience can be relived at the Clover Creek Encampment.

Visitors can enjoy the Peg Leg Smith Trading Post which is a gift shop. There are exhibits, the Rails and Trails Museum and the Allinger Community Theater. The center has an art show of Oregon Trail paintings that have been created by an Idaho artist, Gary Stone. John Wayne Cook is a resident artist that has done the exquisite murals at the center.

The National Oregon/California Trail Center is midway from Jackson/Yellowstone Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah. There are hotels and restaurants in the Bear Lake Valley area.

The center is located at 320 North 4th Street in Montpelier, ID. The hours of operation are May through Labor Day. Sunday through Thursday it is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. September 1st through October 31st is from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Reservations are needed if anyone wants to visit from November 1st through April 30th.

Ticket prices are: Adults: nine dollars, Seniors (60+): eight dollars, Youth (8-17): six dollars and Children (7 & under): free. There are also school and group rates available. The educational tours available for students and teachers can include meals. A teacher's manual that includes history, facts, crosswords and word searches can be downloaded.

While many people may think that a lot of the deaths of the pioneers on the wagon trains were from Indian attacks they would be wrong. The most common threat was from getting run over by the wagon's wheels or from drowning while crossing a swift running river. Diseases such as cholera, small pox, flu, measles, mumps and tuberculosis were also major contributors. This is just some of the information that is presented at the center.