Historian Rich Grelle is coming to the Scenic Regional Library in Warrenton from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, to take an audience for a ride on the Oregon Trail.The Oregon Train, first created as a footpath for fur traders around 1811, had become the only usable wagon path from Missouri to the unsettled West by 1836. Emigrants and others wanted to go west as they envisioned a more prosperous future. The trip was challenging for the most hardened pioneers — about 2,200 miles, eight states and six months by wagon.Grelle, who lives near Jonesburg, is bringing his displays and artifacts and will talk about why these pioneers wanted to go west, the animals they brought, the illnesses they suffered and treacherous physical obstacles they encountered.While most people know a little about the Oregon Trail, “I’m going to tell them things they didn’t expect,” Grelle said.His wife, Vivian is part of the presentation, too. She comes in costume.“She manages things we pass out to the kids,” he said.The “things,” he said, allows them to see, feel and touch history and connect with the experience.People may recognize Vivian. She has been known to visit schools in period costumes. During those visits, she quilts and talks about the Underground Railroad.The couple spends time researching history. Grelle is a self-taught historian with a particular interest in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe Trail. He studied them and he and Vivian have traveled them.Grelle’s interest in storytelling came after realizing that schoolbooks don’t have enough to say about all of America’s history.“(The history of Lewis and Clark) is about a paragraph. I have books on this stuff,” he said.He became known to the library during its Pioneer Day program.“He’s a really good storyteller, and he makes it interesting,” said Laura McBride with the Scenic Regional Library. “He draws you in.”“I get so worked up in it. The past couple of shows, I lost my voice,” Grelle said.He bought a small PA system. He said he might use it for the first time at the library presentation.The Journey of the Oregon Trail is an all ages presentation. RSVP by calling 636-456-3321, stopping by the branch or visiting scenicregional.org.The library is located at 912 S. Highway 47 in Warrenton.

Jonesburg area resident Rich Grelle is making an appearance at the Scenic Regional Library in Warrenton to talk about life on the Oregon Trail. 

Submitted photo