Geography in 1849

Too much wind or not enough current, or both!— Sailing around Cape Horn in 1849

Having grown up in a world where engines rule everything, the idea of being at the whim of the wind is hard for me to conceive. I’ve...

Cornelius Vanderbilt and the ATC-Nicaragua Passage

As eluded to in the last, I was led to this “what the…?" moment by a friend of the family who has traveled extensively in Nicaragua. My...

Just how many options did a gold-crazed opportunist have for getting to California?

For many on the East Coast of the United States during the California Gold Rush, sailing around Cape Horn was a very popular option...

Civilian Ships and the Mexican American War

I’ve touched on the political and nationalism ambitions of President Polk when he took office, especially when it came to Mexico’s...

The Mormon Migration

Keeping in the theme of the mid-1800s western migration, there’s another migration that gets little attention now, although it was, at...

Who can resist the temptation of “free” land?

As a land steward, I understand the feeling that comes with knowing that the land you derive your living from is personally owned. No one...

Wrapping One's Head Around 1849 Geography and European-American Impact

One of the reasons I was excited to start this blog was to help give context for the time and place of my story to my readers. Prologues,...