Many Unknown Graves, Wyoming’s Oregon Trail

Quick history question for you: How many people died along the Oregon trail in Wyoming?

Answer: We really don't know. There are a lot of unmarked graves out there.

Historians do not have an exact count for how many people died specifically in the Wyoming portion of the Oregon Trail because records were incomplete and most graves were left unmarked to prevent disturbance.

The best we can do is make an estimate. You'll notice a big gap in these numbers because we are doing a lot of assuming and guessing.

Across the entire 2,000-mile Oregon and California trail network, historians estimate that 20,000 to 30,000 people died (roughly 4% to 10% of all travelers who set out).

So if we just look at the Wyoming stretch, which is roughly 400+ miles through high plains and mountains, a proportional estimate suggests that several thousand of those total deaths occurred within the state's borders.

Leading Causes of death were cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever were the leading killers by a wide margin.

Accidental shootings, drownings at river crossings, and being run over by heavy wagons were common.

Weather and Exposure: Mountain passes and early winter snowstorms also claimed lives.

If you watch old movies, you would think that quicksand would have been a big factor. While Wyoming does have quicksand, it is really just an annoyance.

Notable Surviving Graves in Wyoming

Mary Homsley Grave: Located near Fort Laramie, it is one of several distinct pioneer graves remaining from the peak migration year of 1852.

Frederick Fulkerson Grave: Located near Devil's Gate, it marks a 17-year-old traveler who drowned in 1847.

Ada Magill Grave: Located near Glenrock, featuring a rough original headstone for a young child who died in 1864.

Quintina Snodderly Grave: Located east of Casper, rediscovered and preserved through historical research.

There are other historical markers out there.