A Century by Sea and Land: Explorers and Traders in Oregon Country, 1741-1830
During a century of sometimes intense maritime and terrestrial exploration, EuroAmericans sailed and trekked to Oregon Country and made charts and maps that informed the world about the Northwest Coast of North America and the interior Pacific Northwest. Their experiences, the effect they had on Native people, and the interest they stimulated about the region set agendas for subsequent events that affect Oregonians to the present day.
Using knowledge gained from explorers, British and American fur companies envisioned control of the rich natural resources of the Oregon Country-especially its fur-bearing animals, timber, and salmon-as the path to profit and power in what soon became a jointly-occupied territory.
In the process of extracting key resources, these fur traders transformed area networks of commerce, transportation, and communication; established new communities; linked the Oregon Country to the global marketplace; and helped lay the groundwork for key political boundaries, cities, and transportation corridors known in Oregon today.
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