George Gibbs -- Journal, Astoria, Oregon Territory, 1850-1853

Oregon became the 33rd state in the United States on February 14, 1859--what was life like before statehood, when the region was known as Oregon Territory? Find out with ethnologist George Gibbs' journal from the Oregon Territory, 1850-53. Gibbs first traveled West during the 1848 gold rush, and eventually became Collector of the Port of Astoria in the Oregon Territory. After decades exploring the American West, Gibbs came to Washington D.C. where he studied Native American languages at the Smithsonian. Explore Oregon Territory and the American frontier with George Gibbs and help transcribe his field journals!