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The goals of our organization, locally as well as nationally, are to educate people about our past and to protect the trails from destruction. We want to share the true story of our westward expansion and to dispel some of the traditional western myths. Trails Head is dedicated to the preservation of the remnants of actual trails and sites and the written record left behind by the people who traveled West. Our primary purposes are to educate, conduct research, publish trail-related documents, mark and map the trail routes. Along with the other chapters of OCTA, Trails Head is extremely watchful of the threats of the trail, such as commercial development, highway and road expansion, and vandalism. Individual groups work with local developers and government agencies to protect the trails. But when the preservation becomes wider in scope, the national organization works to preserve this unique chapter of American history. Much of Trails Head's primary work involves preserving ruts and sites, marking areas and education. Although a good deal of the work done by local chapters is to mark key sites of the trails, the organization as a whole acknowledges that one day all evidence of the historic trails may be gone. We expend considerable effort trying to preserve the written records left behind by the early pioneers. By preserving that written record, researching it and writing about it, then the trails will remain. The trail story will be interpreted for future generations and demonstrate to them what the American Spirit embodies: the spirit of achievement, adventure and the determination to seek out a better life for themselves and their families. Our activities and accomplishments focus on education by:
In order to accomplish our educational goals, Trails Head needs financial support from sponsoring individuals and corporations. To learn more about becoming an OCTA sponsor, please visit our sponsorship page. Greater Kansas City Area The Oregon and California Trails were major thoroughfares from the American East to the undiscovered West, and because of the promise they held for people in the 19th Century, the trails helped forge our national identity and helped form our regional character. The tales of the trails are the stories of how the West was settled and how the cities along the routes were formed. The founding of Kansas City is inextricably tied to the Oregon and California Trails as well as several other emigrant, commercial and military routes. This area was the "jumping off" point for thousands of travelers heading to Oregon, California, Santa Fe, Colorado, Utah, Montana and other lands out West. As such, the Kansas City chapter of OCTA is called "Trails Head" in deference to this city's role in the creation and outfitting of the wagon trains. The Trails Head Chapter focuses our educational and preservation efforts on this unique spot along the trails and our city's exceptional role in American history. |
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Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) The Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA), which was founded in 1982, is dedicated to the preservation of the pioneer trails and education about the emigrant experience. OCTA has about 2,300 members who come from all across the United States and several foreign countries. OCTA is governed by a twelve-member Board of Directors elected by the membership at large. Board members serve for three years and are limited to two terms. In addition to the Board, OCTA has four officers who are elected by the board. The President servers for two years while the rest of the officers serve one-year terms. If elected to a second one-year term, the Vice President then also serves as President-Elect. OCTA's goals are further served by a National Preservation Officer who is appointed by the Board. Many of OCTA's functions are performed by a variety of committees (e.g. Education, Finance, Publications, Trail Mapping and Marking, Archaeology, etc.) chaired by the organization's members. Committee chairs are volunteers recruited from the general membership. In addition, OCTA has ten Chapters organized along regional or state lines (see listing below). The Association publishes a quarterly newsletter (NEWS FROM THE PLAINS) and a journal (OVERLAND JOURNAL), operates a bookstore containing trail publications, maintains the Mattes Research Collection, and sponsors an annual convention each August at some site along one of the Overland Trails. For membership information, please visit the OCTA website at OCTA-trails.org or the address listed below. OCTA is a 501(C)(3) not for profit organization (EIN-84-0962140). OCTA's national headquarters is located at: Oregon-California Trails Association OCTA Chapters In addition to the parent organization, OCTA has ten Chapters which are generally organized along regional or individual states along the trails. Membership information can be obtained by contacting OCTA's national headquarters. The individual chapters are: |
| Trails Head Chapter | Greater Kansas City |
| Gateway Chapter | St. Joseph, Missouri, and northeast Kansas |
| KANZA Chapter | Marshall, Pottawattamie, Washington Counties and western Kansas |
| California-Nevada Chapter | California and Nevada |
| Nebraska Chapter | Nebraska |
| Wyoming Chapter | Wyoming |
| Crossroads Chapter | Utah |
| Idaho-Montana Chapter | Idaho and Montana |
| Northwest Chapter | Oregon, Washington and Western Canada |
| Southwest Chapter | Arizona and New Mexico |
 Trails Head Information Purpose/Goals | The Trails | Reading Room Membership | Sponsorship | Associates |
The Trails Head Chapter of the Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) is an active educational organization that brings to life America's period of great expansion.