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Whistle Stopper - The Story of the Oregon Trail
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List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $19.95
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Directed By: Steve Boettcher, Mike Trinklein
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9781883691028
Format: Color
ISBN: 1883691028
Number Of Items: 1
Release Date: 1996-01-01
Running Time: 66
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: An every-turn-of-the-wheels account of the journey along the Oregon trail
Comment: Approximately 250,000 people were part of the migration of people from the Eastern section of the United States into what was called Oregon territory. With a climate that was milder than that of what is now the Midwestern states and land that was free for homesteading, moving to Oregon was an attractive option. As is pointed out on this tape, most of the people who made the journey were prosperous farmers from areas such as Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
The journey was a long and difficult one, at a speed in the neighborhood of 2 miles per hour and a distance of 15 miles per day; it took approximately seven months to complete it. With disease and accidents always possible approximately one in ten who departed was buried somewhere on the trail. Contrary to myth, the Native Americans that lived on the trail route were generally friendly, often trading with the settlers and sometimes helping them when they encountered problems.
This tape recounts the journey, from the departure at the trailheads of Independence, Kansas City and other sites on the Missouri River to their arrival in the fertile soil of Oregon. Most walked the entire distance, as there was little room in the wagons for anyone other than the driver. The commentators are quite correct in pointing out that the migration on the Oregon trail is what made the United States a coast-to-coast nation. The large number of transplanted Americans allowed the United States to claim what became the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. If that were not the case, those three states would now be part of Canada.
One of the largest voluntary migrations of humans ever, the movement along the Oregon Trail was one of the singular events in the creation of the United States. As a description of that event, this tape would be an excellent addition to any class covering the history of the United States.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful History Film
Comment: This film follows in the footsteps of the frontier emigrants by taking you from the port towns to the Willamette Valley and giving you a first hand account of what the journey was like. The film begins with a good introduction - giving you a little pre-Oregon Trail history of Westward exploration and expansion, as well as the reasons for emigrating west and the benefits of doing so. I found this to be important and interesting information. Then, as the film proceeds from landmark to landmark east to west, important questions are raised. What type of wagon, draft animals, and supplies would be needed for their journey and what was the best time to leave? What was it like to sleep, cook, or even hold a funeral on the prairie? What were the dangers that faced the pioneers? How did they react upon seeing their very first buffalo or Indian? Facts and stories given by interviewed historians and readings from actual journals and diaries give us answers. Beautiful paintings combined with live footage of the historical sites, along with sound effects, give the viewer a feast for the eyes and ears. And all the while the narrator's voice keeps you eager to hear more. I recommend it.
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Summary: Excellent Learning Film
Comment: I showed this video to my fourth grade class. Their attention was held the whole time! There were three parts in which I warned them would be kind of disturbing but there were no visuals for these parts so it made it easier to not make a big deal out of it. The first item was the mention of drinking urine to survive. The second was a child's head was crushed under a wheel(no visual). And the third was using buffalo dung for various things. Other than those three things it was an informative and entertaining video about the Oregon Trail.
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Summary: Good account, but no heart
Comment: This is a very plain presentation of what was really a very passionate trek. These people embodied the American Dream. They made their future by crossing a continent. This passion is lacking from this recounting of the Oregon Trail.
Customer Rating:
Summary: This is more of a historical factual acct.
Comment: This is very informative for "the facts only" but it barely covers the emotional and the heavy burdens of sadness and turmoil that women and children went through on the Oregon Trail. As a woman I am interested in the women's lives on the trail. This was from the point of view of men and barely if at all covered how women functioned and cooked and cleaned (with what?) on the trail. They just said where the trail started and finished and such without the real emotional parts that I wanted to hear.
It is neat however that we got to go on the trail as it shows it from beginning to end. I know what the trail looked like now. It just was lacking something more is all.
:)
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