A wagon train led by Stephen Meek and his ill-fated attempt to find a shortcut to the Willamette Valley.

Looking for a short cut to the Willamette Valley, Stephen Meek led an ill-fated train of 214 wagons through the unforgiving deserts of Eastern Oregon. Many perished on this disastrous shortcut which became known as the Meek Trail.

One story from the Meek Trial that still survives is of a little girl who carried a blue bucket when she went in a search of water with a group of other children. Days later gold nuggets were discovered in the bottom of her bucket. This gave rise to the legend of the Lost Blue Bucket Mine. Although many have searched, the source of the gold nuggets remain a mystery.

Address: Washington and Main North (Les Schwab Tire Center)

Artist: Don Gary (painted in 1994)