Platte River Road Narratives, by Merrill J. Mattes

The author spent nearly a decade compiling this bibliography that lists significant eye-witness accounts of travel over the central Platte River route between 1812 and 1860. In describing more than 2,000 accounts, this eminent trails historian identifies the author, form, and the present location of each diary. In a brief synopsis, he gives each trip’s chronology, route highlights and also provides a scholarly analysis of the account.