The brothers Jacob and George Donner were among the thousands of Americans who answered the beckoning call of the West in the 1840's. When they prepared to move their families from their home in Illinois to California, they knew that a long and difficult journey lay ahead. But they had read about a newly discovered shortcut that would make the trip to California somewhat easier. The Donners decided to join forces with other emigrant families and headed west in the spring of 1846 in wagons pulled by teams of oxen. Although the going was rough-the group had to contend with sickness, quick tempers, and hostile bands of Indians – they were determined to reach their destination by winter.
Tragically, the so-called shortcut did not turn out to be what they expected. The group began running low on food and supplies. At the end of October, they were stranded on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada. The snowy winter had already begun, and many perished under the most gruesome of conditions.
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