Oregon Trail 5: Hollenberg Pony Express Station State Historic Site - Homestead National Historical Park
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 32 mi
- Elevation gain
- 702 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 679 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,358 ft
- TrailRank
- 22
- Min elevation
- 1,169 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 40 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1243
- Uploaded
- April 9, 2020
- Recorded
- April 2020
near Hanover, Kansas (United States)
Viewed 239 times, downloaded 0 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Though technically not on the Oregon National Historic Trail, the location of Homestead National Historical Park was convenient enough to justify its inclusion on my road trip.
The site provided context to my understanding of the lives of the homesteaders who helped expand the United States into the Great Plains. Perhaps some had originally embarked for destinations further west, but decided to settle in this area, tempted by land grants and fertile soil.
Standing just outside the Palmer-Epard Cabin, I tried to imagine life with a family of ten squeezed into the petite quarters: the cramped sleeping space, the noise, and the smells. The conditions would have certainly inclined me to spend the days outside, with farm work as the primary way to pass the time.
The Palmer-Epard Cabin was originally further north, built in 1867 on free land claimed by George W. Palmer. His family occupied the tiny home for nearly 30 years. When it passed to the Epard family, they lived in it for almost 40 more years, with only minor improvements made to the structure. It was not until 1950 that the cabin was donated to the National Park Service.
The site provided context to my understanding of the lives of the homesteaders who helped expand the United States into the Great Plains. Perhaps some had originally embarked for destinations further west, but decided to settle in this area, tempted by land grants and fertile soil.
Standing just outside the Palmer-Epard Cabin, I tried to imagine life with a family of ten squeezed into the petite quarters: the cramped sleeping space, the noise, and the smells. The conditions would have certainly inclined me to spend the days outside, with farm work as the primary way to pass the time.
The Palmer-Epard Cabin was originally further north, built in 1867 on free land claimed by George W. Palmer. His family occupied the tiny home for nearly 30 years. When it passed to the Epard family, they lived in it for almost 40 more years, with only minor improvements made to the structure. It was not until 1950 that the cabin was donated to the National Park Service.
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