Baker City is a small town situated directly on I-84 in Northeastern Oregon, approx. 120 mi north west from Boise, ID, approx. 350 mi south east from Seattle, WA, and approx. 300 mi from Portland, Oregon. Driving on I-84, take Exit 302, 304, or 306.
Seeing the town on the map wouldn’t really suggest to make a stop here but you would definitely miss something if you don’t do it.
Baker City was established in 1874 on the Historical Oregon Trail. The ‘Oregon Trail Regional Museum’ is located at 2480 Grove, Baker City.
It was around 1861 that the first gold was discovered and that gave an impulse to the region. Gold diggers from all over the nation flocked to the area which thrived and prospered. More than 100 well restored historical buildings can still be seen in Baker City: some examples along Main Street are the Bowen Home (1895), the Luther B. Ison Home (1887), the Mint and Fox Building (1889) but you will discover many more.
Main Street also offers nice shops and cafes.
A real grandeur is the Geiser Grand Hotel on Main Street which was built by two brothers, Harry und Jake Warshauer, in 1889, after they discoverd gold and became immeasurable rich. Take a look at the hotel from the inside or decide to stay.
In brief: The Oregon Trail
The general route stretches from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon. This 2,170 mile long trail passes through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. As the harbinger of America’s westward expansion, the Oregon Trail was the pathway to the Pacific for fur traders, gold seekers, missionaries and emigrants.
Beginning in 1841 and continuing for more than 20 years, an estimated 300,000 emigrants followed this route from Missouri to Oregon on a trip that took five months to complete.
