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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| In 1936 William Henry Jackson served as the main speaker during ceremonies that dedicated the newly completed Oregon Trail Museum. During this visit, Jackson walked out into Mitchell Pass and showed where his wagon train had camped in 1866. (SCBL 2794) |
Section 2: Paintings of the Oregon Trail
SCOTTS BLUFF
Scotts Bluff is named after Hiram Scott, an early fur trader who had the misfortune of dying nearby in 1828. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear and seem to have become more clouded each time the story was told around a campfire. One story has Scott wounded by Indians and abandoned by his nervous companions. In another version, an injured Scott urges his companions to leave him so he can die in peace.
When William Henry Jackson first saw Scotts Bluff in 1866, the fur traders, the Oregon Trail pioneers, the Mormon exodus, the California gold seekers, and the Pony Express riders had already used the bluff as a landmark and then faded into history. Traffic on the trail was still heavy, but now in addition to emigrants, there were trains of wagons hauling supplies to Denver, Salt Lake City, and points west.
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| The perspective of this painting, Mitchell Pass, is almost identical to the campsite Jackson pointed out in 1936—70 years later. The pyramid-shaped formation to the left is known as Eagle Rock, while the stone pillar in the distance is Dome Rock. (SCBL 27) |
In the early years, most overland traffic actually went around Scotts Bluff by swinging south and going through Robidoux Pass. This route took the wagons away from the Platte River and added several miles to their journey, but the deep cuts and coulees in Mitchell Pass seemed to be impassible. Then, sometime in 1851, improvements were made in Mitchell Pass, which allowed wagons to make it through.
There are two theories about who would have been able to do all this work. One view holds that a detachment was sent over from Fort Laramie, and under the watchful eye of an officer with engineering training, they were able to cut their way through the soft, silty soil. The second theory holds that a fur company hired men to do the work in Mitchell Pass in order to put a rival trading post located in Robidoux Pass out of business.
William Henry Jackson's career as a bullwhacker almost came to an abrupt end at Scotts Bluff. Jackson was walking alongside his freight wagons in Mitchell Pass when disaster almost struck.
Going down a slight grade my miserable bulls suddenly swung into a tearing gallop, and in an instant the second part, or "back-action" of my wagon was halfway over the edge of the road, skidding on its axles, and threatening to drag with it the front half all the bulls, and myself. For once I could use my whip at full strength without a qualm. Frantically all of us fought to stay on top; and then with a mighty heave, the frightened animals hauled the back-action up to the trail once more.1
Seventy years after his close call, Jackson returned to Scotts Bluff, this time to deliver a speech during dedication ceremonies for the opening of the Oregon Trail Museum at Scotts Bluff National Monument. After his speech, Jackson revisited the site of his near demise and drove a stake into the ground to mark the site of his 1866 campsite. Jackson's last visit to Scotts Bluff was in 1938, when he attended the annual meeting of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association.2
1. Jackson, Time Exposure, 124-125.
2. Ibid., 337.
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| Scotts Bluff. Signed and dated 1937. 23.5 x 33.6 cm. (SCBL 26) |
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scbl/knudsen/sec2i.htm Last Updated: 14-Apr-2006 |
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