Giant Covered Wagons

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The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was built in 1995 on the former Donation Land Claim of the first elected governor of the Oregon Country, George Abernethy. A merchant and miller by trade, Abernethy had a vested interest in the continued growth of Oregon City, so he permitted newly arrived emigrants to park their wagons, graze their oxen, and set up camp on a meadow behind his house. That meadow came to be called Abernethy Green, and for many of the early Oregon Trail emigrants, it truly was the Trail's end.

It is on Abernethy Green that the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center now invites you to explore the history of the modern Pacific Northwest, from the arrival of the first fur traders to the coming of the railroads that ended the era of the great overland trails. Our signature covered wagon-shaped buildings house two digital theaters and an exhibit gallery. Out back, you'll find the Willamette Trades & Craft Workshop, a space dedicated to mixing exhibits with hands-on activities for children of all ages.