On the Road to Seattle

A wagon train faced a long and arduous trip.

It was mid-April 1851 when a wagon train left Illinois, headed for the Northwest region. Led by Arthur Denny, the pioneers faced a long and tough road. They fought Indians, bad weather, a lack of roads, and more. It took seven months to get to Puget Sound, but they arrived on November 13, 1851. There was still some scouting to do, and a final decision to plant themselves at a place called Alki. The area would later be renamed after an Indian chief: Seattle. A monument (photo) was placed at the location on November 13, 1905.