Bound For the Promised Land, by William C. Bullard

One hundred fifty years ago American gathered in the frontier hamlet of Independence, Missouri to carry out a disorganized, audacious dream. They carted their civilization across a vast plain, scaled the Rockies and extended the United States all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This elegant and beautifully written book is copiously illustrated with early photos and was published to commemorate the opening of the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, Missouri.