The Oregon-California Trail passed by the mission and trail ruts are still visible to the southeast of the building. Both tribes benefitted from the increased traffic by building a toll bridge. But with the travelers came small pox and cholera, causing epidemics that took many lives. The tribes feared further contact with Americans and moved away from the mission.

[Inset illustration caption reads] A drawing of a group of Iowa

Courtesy hmdb.org

Credits and Sources: