Printed on back: Born Dec. 29, 1830; migrated to the Oregon country summer of 1852; farmer, father of the hop industry of Washington Territory (now State); pioneer in Exporting Pacific coast hops; spent four winters in London; and five years in searching out and recovering the lost Oregon Trail; never sick in bed for sixty years; always lived in the open air; never drank intoxicants nor experienced a rheumatic pain; active and hopes to live to be a hundred years old, Good night.
Near the end of his first wagon journey re-crossing the Oregon Trail, Washington pioneer Ezra Meeker drives his ox team through Manhattan before proceeding on to Washington D.C. to meet with President Teddy Roosevelt. Meeker traveled twice between 1906-1912 across the Old Oregon Trail, raising funds to preserve it and erect commemorative markers. He tried to generate as much public awareness and support for his cause as possible on these journeys, which probably explains his unnecessary and difficult passage through New York.
Printed on front: Broad Street, near Wall, New York City, 1907.
Printed on back: Business was suspended, a speech called for and loudly acclaimed by the brokers and multitude:- one of those places harder to get out of than to get into, but bay the help of two policemen a way was opened.
Washington pioneer Ezra Meeker and his ox-driven covered wagon are shown heading a transportation parade at the Dominguez Air Meet, held on the Dominguez Ranch near Los Angeles. The parade represented developments in transportation methods, and included horses, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, dirigibles and airplanes. Meeker spent some time in California between his two cross-country wagon journeys along the Old Oregon Trail. Participation in parades like this and the Rose Bowl Parade provided him with publicity he sought to support his cause of preserving the Trail and erecting monuments for its pioneers.
Printed on front: Ezra Meeker at Aviation Meet. Los Angeles, 1910.
Ezra Meeker, a Washington pioneer and historian, is shown here with his ox team and covered wagon among a group of onlookers. In an effort to preserve and memorialize the Old Oregon Trail, Meeker took two covered wagon trips back across it in 1906-1908 and 1910-1912. After the first trip, Meeker spent some time in California conducting research on the trail. He briefly returned to Washington when his wife died, but traveled back to California with his wagon and ox team to fulfill a prior commitment to drive in the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade- an event he knew would be good for publicity. He then embarked on his second re-crossing of the trail, raising funds along the way to erect markers. This photo was probably taken shortly before leaving on his second trek.
Washington pioneer and Oregon Trail historian Ezra Meeker is shown here with President Teddy Roosevelt and his covered wagon at the end of a cross-country trip from Puyallup, Washington. Meeker underwent this arduous journey by wagon and ox team in efforts to preserve the Old Trail and raise commemorative markers for its pioneers. After reaching what he considered the end (or the beginning, from a pioneer viewpoint) of the Trail in Omaha, Nebraska, Meeker continued on to Washington, D.C. where he requested support for his project from President Roosevelt. Although the president urged Congress to consider a bill appropriating $50,000 for trail preservation, the bill failed. This did not discourage Meeker from tirelessly promoting his cause until his death in 1928.
Printed on front: President Roosevelt viewing the Team, 1907.
Printed on back: No one on the whole trip showed a livelier interest in the effort to monument the Oregon Trail, than did Mr. Roosevelt; recommended an appropriation by Congress to complete this work.
Washington pioneer Ezra Meeker, on one of his two commemorative re-crossings of the Old Oregon Trail between 1906-1912, pauses with his ox team and wagon before Chimney Rock. This rock formation was one of the most noted landmarks in the mid-19th century for travelers of the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails. It is considered a symbol of the largest voluntary migration of people in the history of mankind. The rock is now a National Historic Site.
Printed on front: Chimney Rock, near Bayard, North Platee, Neb.
Printed on back: This wonderful land mark could be seen long distances before the growth of timber in the North Platte Valley. Seen in mirage 50 miles away in 1852.
Washington pioneer Ezra Meeker's ox team steadily pull his covered wagon along the Old Oregon Trail, past a group of curious onlookers. This photo was probably taken near the end of the first of Meeker's commemorative re-crossings of the trail, from 1906-1908, and then again from 1910-1912. The trips were undertaken to preserve the trail and raise monuments to its original pioneers. A banner on the side of the wagon, barely legible in the photo, appears to mark his progress on the journey.
Two photos of pioneer Ezra Meeker on the first of his two re-crossings of the Old Oregon Trail between 1906-1912. The top photo shows Meeker trying to find wagon tracks in a rugged, brushy hillside. The bottom photo depicts Meeker, his dog Jim and several other people gathered around a commemorative trail marker just placed by Meeker.
Printed on front: Found the Trail. Planting a Marker.
Printed on back: These two realistic views graphicaly record the work of recovering the "Lost Trail," and preserving its identity, better than volumes of written testimony; 1906.
Portrait of Washington pioneer Ezra Meeker resting beside his wagon during the first of his two re-crossings of the Old Oregon Trail. This journeys took place between 1906-1912, with the purpose of marking the trail before it was lost, and placing commemorative monuments along the way for its original pioneers. Meeker's dog, Jim, can be seen lying at the far left of the photo. The man at the right is Meeker's driver, William Mardon, who has been painted out of other editions of this post card.
Ezra Meeker stands within an enclosed grave area. A small memorial stone is at his feet. Meeker and the group of people standing around the grave appear thoughtful and reverent.
Printed on back: But few of the graves on the Plains have been preserved. A sypathetic pioneer settlement of a later date have cared for this one although the history of it comes down as a legend- in fact lost. Ezra Meeker addressing the pioneers; Neb., 1910.
