Inside the National Oregon/California Trail Center are various interesting areas to visit. One of the areas is the Rails & Trails Museum, which is located in the lower level of the center. The guest book is situated near the bottom of the stairs. "The Rails & Trails Museum strives to preserve and display artifacts and exhibits which demonstrate the heritage of the Bear Lake Valley. Although part of the Trail Center, admission to the Rails & Trails Museum is free to the public.
The museum is comprised of three major collections:
Railroad Exhibit
Artifacts of early railroad in Montpelier. All railroad lovers will enjoy this exhibit.
Daughters of Utah Pioneers Exhibit
The pioneers brought many items into the valley by wagon. Learn about the challenges faced by the pioneers in their historic travels.
Bear Lake County Historical Society
Includes other artifacts more recently donated reflecting the early history of Montpelier and the Bear Lake valley. The society has a wealth of historians that have documented local history and folk lore.
Season Hours:
The Rails and Trails Museum is open free to the public from the Saturday prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Sunday thru Thursday
9:00 am - 7:00 pm, Friday thru Saturday"
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"Explore the stories and adventures of emigrants who traveled the Oregon Trail. Travel back to 1849. Hear the story of Peg Leg Smith and his trading post. Visit with pioneers in their wagon train encampment at the Clover Creek grazing area. Hear their story. Learn about their dream. The original Oregon Trail runs through the northeast section of Bear Lake County and follows the Bear River and Highway 30 North through Montpelier and the west side of Georgetown. Some of the wagon ruts can still be seen." (
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"The NATIONAL OREGON/CALIFORNIA TRAIL CENTER, located in MONTPELIER, IDAHO, offers visitors a unique and entertaining interpretive indoor adventure; simulating an actual wagon train experience of the 1850s. Re-enacted entirely within our comfortable center, this interpretive experience features historically accurate interpretive areas and live actors. Patrons will go back in time to visit a gun shop, mercantile, ride in a covered wagon and spend time around the evening encircled wagon train at the Clover Creek Encampment.
The National Oregon/California Trail Center and the City of Monpelier, Idaho are located on the historic Oregon/California Trail, mid-way between Jackson/Yellowstone and Salt Lake City. Our hotels, restaurants and location are within the beautiful Bear Lake Valley and offer the tourist traveler a unique vacation stopover.
Step Into the Days of the Oregon Trail by taking our simulated Wagon Trail Adventure. You and your family will become members of a simulated wagon train headed west and be guided by our live cast of pioneers whose dialogue and stories will make the adventure come alive! Sign up at our front desk.
The Center also offers spacious and clean restrooms, the Peg Leg Smith Trading Post gift shop, exhibits , Rails and Trails Museum, the Allinger Community Theatre, an original art exhibit of Oregon Trail paintings by Idaho artist Gary Stone and the beautiful murals of artist-in-residence John Wayne Cook. This will be an experience you will never forget! !!" (
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The National Oregon/California Trail Center is located at 320 North 4th Street. 4th Street is also Highway 30, the main north-south road through Montpelier. The Trail Center is on the east side of the highway.