INTRODUCTION
By Marian Albright Schenk
FOREWORD
By Dean Knudsen
SECTION 1
Primary Themes of Jackson's Art
SECTION 2
Paintings of the Oregon Trail
SECTION 3
Historic Scenes From the West
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| William Henry Jackson's experience with draft animals paid off when he had to rely on them to haul his bulky photographic equipment through the wilds of Wyoming for the U.S. Geological Survey. Dated 1870, this photograph shows the 27 year-old Jackson on horseback leading his trusty pack mule, "Hypo." (SCBL 2788) |
Section 2: Paintings of the Oregon Trail
THE SAND HILLS
The Nebraska Sand Hills held a fascination for emigrants and freighters making their way along the south bank of the Platte River. The otherwise featureless Oregon Trail was occasionally treated with a view of the mysterious sandhills on the northern horizon. Part of the mystery undoubtedly arose from their inaccessibility, as it was inconvenient to cross the Platte River and explore the hills, while at the same time, the otherwise monotonous terrain left so little to the imagination that the overlanders were starved for anything that could distract their attention.
The sand hills are a geological feature unique to Nebraska. These rolling, treeless dunes are remnants of an ancient time of inland seas and huge sand dunes. To those making their way west, the dunes took on the appearance of an ocean, the hills seeming to move like waves.
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| Another advantage of Jackson's experience on the overland trails is that his drawings provide a wealth of detailed information. In this drawing, entitled Grub Pile, we are shown how meals were prepared over an open fire with frying pans, dutch ovens, and the ever-present coffee pot. (SCBL 49) |
Jackson's painting of the sand hills does much to capture this aspect of the Oregon Trail, while also depicting some interesting details about life on the trail. Notice how most of the emigrants are walking alongside their wagons rather than riding. This was done to lessen the burden on the oxen. Besides, riding in a heavy wooden wagon without any kind of shock-absorbing springs did not make for a very comfortable ride.
You will also notice that there are men on horseback acting as guards. This was generally done to keep an eye open for any danger. The general fear was of encountering warlike Indians, but such incidents were actually very rare on the Oregon Trail. If anything, the guards were just as necessary to keep curious children and distracted adults from wandering off and getting lost.
One of the real dangers facing emigrants is depicted in this particular painting. Notice how those people walking are being careful to keep a respectful distance from the wagons. This was especially important for children, as emigrant diaries are remarkable for the frequent entries describing accidents. Children running in front of the oxen or trying to climb up into a moving wagon were all too vulnerable to being trampled or falling under the wheels with tragic results.2
In something of a humorous note, Jackson's eye for composition is legendary, but in this painting he seems to have made a major mistake. Since the sandhills are located to the north of the overland trails, this wagon train is going the wrong way! If they are indeed making the trek west, they should be marching in the other direction.
1. Unruh, The Plains Across, 413.
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| Sand Hills of the Platte. Signed and dated 1932. 26.0 x 38.0 cm. (SCBL 278) |
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scbl/knudsen/sec2g.htm Last Updated: 14-Apr-2006 |
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