THE CHINESE CEMETERY

Back in Baker city, we found a memorial to the Chinese people who used to live there, and work in the gold mines. There was an actual Chinatown of stores and residential area. We looked but could only find one house remaining that had kind of a swooping roof. However, the town has placed a memorial at the old Chinese cemetery. I'm lazy today, so instead of a lot of typing, you can read the signs like we did.

Here's part of the memorial.





Here's the prayer house.

There's an old mine behind the cemetery.

The camera wasn't able to see what the naked eye could, when it comes to the old graves, but they are very obvious . If you read the sign, you know that the bones were purified and sent to their families in China.

OREGON TRAIL RUTS

There's an area at the base of themountain where you can see some of the original untouched ruts caused by the wagons. It gives you kind of an eerie feeling to see these.



What they saw in the distance is the same today.

Now, that was a real adventure!!!

MORE FROM THE CENTER

Here they're bartering with the Indians.

There were even a few examples of things we've done to prepare for our adventure. The woman especially, had to down size for the journey. Thank God, we have the whole RV instead of a wagon. There was an exhibit showing the list of belongings that one trunk would hold-just like the steamer trunks on a ship. Wow-Mulert's tools would fill that and there'd be no room for clothes, cooking utensils, etc. We'd be in a major pickle!! Where would I put my scrapbooking supplies? Anyway, I digress-There was a beautiful view out the large windows.

Here's a closer look showing a wagon on the actual Oregon Trail toward the base of the hill.

Outside the building was a wagon camp.

Quite an amazing place!

THE OREGON TRAIL

Just a few miles outside of Baker City, in the middle of nowhere, on top of a mountain, is the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

They have amazing lifesize dioramas, many other interesting exhibits and the longest movie I've ever watched. I guess the Oregon trail took six months to see the end so there was a lot to show. Here's a typical family on the journey.

There were many repairs to make along the way.

There were also many hazards and tradgedies along the way. One out of ten didn't make it to the end. This depicts a young mother mourning the death of her small child who fell out of the wagon, and the wheel ran over him. It reminded me of another journey our ancestors made coming to America and having to have their deceased loved ones thrown over the side of the ship. How would you ever live through that?

This is what the camp looked like at night.

BAKER CITY,OREGON

Right outside town, you begin to see mountains again, and this river.

It's a town of around 8000 people with quite a few stores downtown.

We deliberately went to Baker City so I could do some research. My grandfather's brother lived there and eight years after he died, his son-in-law murdered his daughter. I was able to get the newspaper articles and talk to several people, one of which told me the house is haunted and the Nazarene minister has tried to "cleanse" it. I also heard several stories about what a wonderful person Uncle Fred was. No problems getting information in a small town! This was their church, which is a Cathedral. It's highly unusual to have a Cathedral in a town this size, but the eastern side of the state doesn't have many inhabitants. The diocese has officially been moved further west, but it's still the Cathedral and the Bishop comes to the church.

The powder river runs through town and is right behind the library.

They even have a restored hotel similar to Decorah.

This is the ceiling in the atrium.

Aneat little town with very nice people.

PENDLETON TO BAKER CITY, OREGON

This area was kind of strange-they had bumpy hills.

Shortly out of town, we went up a mountain and stopped at the overlook. It's a shame it was a hazy day, but even with rain threatening, it was neat.

The flowers were really pretty.

Here's a closer look.

PENDLETON WOOLEN MILL

We weren't able to tour the mill because it was a weekend, but we went to the outlet store and small museum. The only things they make in Pedleton now are the blankets-corporate headquarters are in Portland.

The store had nice things, but even sale prices were kind of high.

Some of the museum.

We thought Kathy Fitz would like this chief.

A few more blankets.