Whether you have deep-rooted pioneer ancestry or your connection to the original Mormon pioneers is emotional or academic, the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel database is the right place to begin your research. This database is the most comprehensive record of individuals and companies who traveled to the Salt Lake Valley from both the east and west between 1847 and 1868. The database contains entries for nearly 60,000 individuals and is growing daily. https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel

While not every pioneer recorded his or her journey in writing, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn about the travel experience. If there are no listed sources on an individual’s page, take time to look at the company records or other individual’s pages in the company. You can gain valuable contextual information about life on the trail by understanding the experiences of the company a pioneer traveled with.

Another unique feature of the database is the keyword search, which can help you learn more about a topic of interest. –Aimee McDaniel

Information taken from an article written by Faye Fischer, Church History Specialist on the Church History Blog: https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog