The Meeker Oregon Trail Monument in Boise, ID commemorates the remarkable journey of Ezra Meeker, a pioneer preservationist who dedicated his life to preserving the memory of the Oregon Trail. Born in 1830, Meeker embarked on a mission in 1906 to locate and mark the entire Oregon Trail, traveling by wagon with a team of oxen. His efforts were successful, and he placed 22 stones and markers along the trail, extending his journey all the way to New York City and Washington, D.C.
Ezra Meeker's passion for preserving the history of the Oregon Trail was fueled by his concern that this significant route was disappearing beneath plow and pavement. Through his travels, lectures, and the sale of his book and postcards, Meeker raised funds to erect local monuments along the trail. His dedication and enthusiasm for the project were recognized by President Theodore Roosevelt, and Meeker continued to retrace the trail multiple times, even flying over it in a biplane. His legacy lives on through the Meeker Oregon Trail Monument, a testament to the pioneers who made the arduous journey westward.
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