Don Wildman

I mean, it's all kinds of effects that this has eventually.

Disease is a huge factor as well, what is introduced to these communities.

And a complete disruption of language and tradition, etc.,

eventually gets gets made but the but so interesting that it isn't the more immediate thing that happens but rather later on let's talk about the legacy factor of all of this how has the oregon trail and migration in general at that time lived on in american culture so much of what your museum is about isn't it so certainly as i mentioned earlier

You know, I think it's really important to underscore how much the

This pioneering period, these wagon trains in early America still have to do with the American psyche.

I mean, culturally, politically, personally even.

Some of it's just simple geography.

It's a big country we made happen triumphantly, tragically, but here it is.

And so much of it had to do with the symbolism of that migration.

And in America, there is always that sense, you know, it's true or it's not, perhaps it's myth, but there's always this feeling of opportunity, at least baked into our national story.

And so much of that came from the Oregon Trail, didn't it?

Yes.

And it's the...

The consequences of those actions as well that we have to take into consideration as a society.

And that's the ongoing American experiment is, you know, you go out and get it, but then think of who you're affecting along the way and what it really means in the bigger picture.

That's the maturation of the culture as well.

Stephen Aaron is the director and president of the Autry Museum in Los Angeles, one of my favorite places to visit when I go to Los Angeles.

Go have a look.

You won't be sorry.