16,000 Cherokee were forced to relocate from southeastern U.S. to Indian Territory (modern day Oklahoma) 1,200 miles away.  This emigration followed a path now known as the "Trail of Tears", from southeastern Tennessee, through Missouri and Arkansas to Oklahoma.

This year was referred to as "the Great Migration". 1000 pioneers started by wagon train from Independence, MO to The Dalles, OR. Only about 850 people successfully finished the trip to Oregon.

A bill is passed in Congress creating the Oregon Territory. News took 5 months to reach Oregon City.

Discovery of gold in Jackson Creek (southwest corner of Oregon by the California border) helped start the town of Jacksonville and heavily influenced Oregon Trail travelers to continue towards the Oregon territory.

President Abraham Lincoln signs the Pacific Railroad Act, which names and directs two companies, the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, to construct a transcontinental railroad.

The golden spike is driven at Promontory Summit, Utah by officials of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific, marking the inauguration of the transcontinental railroad.

Oregon & California Railroad plotted location for new townsite which became Medford, OR.

The Oregon Short Line is completed, connecting the Union Pacific main line at Granger, Wyoming to the Pacific Northwest via the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company.

The passage of a statewide initiative established Hood River as the thirty-fourth county of the state of Oregon.

Arrived in Hood River, Oregon by train from Webb City, Missouri.