Beginning in 1846, tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints left homes, friends, and families and endured the rigors of travel by ship, wagon, handcart, and train to gather with fellow Saints in the Rocky Mountains of North America. An exhibit in the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, highlights their efforts of faith and commitment through objects they brought with them between 1846 and 1890. This online version supplements the museum’s exhibit with additional artifacts and monuments on display at Church historic sites from Nauvoo, Illinois, to San Diego, California. 

The sailing ship Brooklyn left New York Harbor in February 1846, bound for California under the leadership of Samuel Brannan. The Brooklyn carried 239 Latter-day Saints and supplies for anticipated Mormon settlements in the West.

That summer, the United States declared war on Mexico in hopes of adding California to its territory. About 500 men and several women and children volunteered to march from Iowa to the Pacific Ocean in what became known as the Mormon Battalion. Their service helped provide funds that enabled many of their fellow Saints to gather to Zion.

In January 1847, Brigham Young received a revelation now included as section 136 in the Doctrine and Covenants. Besides practical advice about organizing wagon companies for traveling, the Lord also urged His Apostles to rely on Him along their way. Strengthened by this revelation, Brigham Young’s vanguard company set out in April and arrived at the Great Salt Lake Valley in July. This company of 143 men, 3 women, and 2 children kept careful records that benefited all who followed.

Beginning in 1840, Latter-day Saint agents at Liverpool, England, chartered boats for large companies of emigrating Saints. In 1852, agents in Copenhagen, Denmark, began making similar arrangements for Danish and other Scandinavian converts—later joined by German, Swiss, Italian, and French converts. Beginning in 1852, many European Saints emigrated using contributions to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund—a revolving loan system that subsidized travel costs. As a result of improved organization and funding, the 1850s included the busiest years for the Mormon Trail. 

After 1860, Church-sponsored down-and-back wagon trains replaced handcarts as an inexpensive way for impoverished Saints to reach Zion. Most pioneers during the 1860s came to Zion in companies using this economical method of gathering until the Transcontinental Railroad arrived in Utah in 1869. After that, the combined steam power of ocean liners and rail locomotives made it possible for European Saints to travel from their homelands to the Rocky Mountains in just over three weeks and for a fraction of the cost.