The National Oregon/California Trail Center — Attraction in Montpelier

As a descendent of pioneers who travelled the California Trail from Wisconsin to Placerville, CA, I found this museum to be a complete scam and sham! How it can call itself the "National" center is beyond me. It covers (very poorly) only the segment of the trail through Idaho to Oregon, not the entire trail. Its claim to fame is a series of paintings done by an artist who supposedly read journals and diaries written by pioneers and then painted scenes depicted in the journals. Oh, but wait!!! That can't be interesting enough on its own, so the artist hid his face somewhere in each of the paintings - can you find it?? - as well as his wife's initials - can you see them? There was also some nonsense about hidden Indians - can you find them?? What is this, Where's Waldo??? But wait, there's more! In one painting, ET (!!!!) is hidden! How exciting! What a joke! If you seriously are interested in learning the history of the Oregon/California Trails, this is definitely not the place to waste your time. Museums and centers that deserve the name National can be found throughout Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming, Oregon and California. But sorry, you won't find ET hiding in any of these. Montpelier Idaho, you should be...

The Oregon Trail Museum (officially the National Oregon/California Trail Center) in Montpelier, Idaho, is a hidden gem for anyone interested in 19th Century American history, especially the westward migration of the 1800s. The experience goes beyond just reading displays—it’s immersive and interactive, with live reenactments that put you right in the shoes of the pioneers.

The museum staff do a fantastic job of making history come alive. You can sit in a replica covered wagon, talk with costumed guides, and even experience a simulated journey west. It’s fun for both adults and kids, striking the perfect balance between education and entertainment.

The exhibits are well-organized and informative, and the surrounding scenery adds to the feeling of stepping back in time. Whether you’re a history buff or just passing through the Bear Lake area, it’s definitely worth a visit. You’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the grit and determination of the...

Our family was halfway through an epic road trip from Texas to Rushmore, Yellowstone, etc. We wanted to check out a bit of Idaho while we were over there, and I'm so glad we did!

The Oregon Trail Museum was awesome for our family to walk through and experience. The guide taught us various things about the process the pioneers went through, the considerations they had to make, and the sets/artifacts were authentic and immersive. I would definitely recommend stopping through and enjoying the history. Check out the Butch Cassidy museum also, which was good fun for the kids! Bear Lake was amazing, also! There is so much to do and so...