Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 5 mi East of Baker OR.
A visit to this newly created Interpretive Center will prove to be an emotionally moving experience! For any sensitive person, who of course the ZMM Traveler actually is, (you) will not soon forget the recorded voice of the diorama scene of the mother weeping over the grave of her newly born child. The ZMM traveler just having his own experience with the very hot dry dusty sage country along Oregon Route 86, will be yanked / thrust to the even more gripping reality of what was the stiffer historical experience to have been on the Oregon Trail 150 years ago! The ZMM Route will take you right by the entrance to this Interpretive Center which will be seen on a high hill (mountain?) 1/2 mi north. Don't miss.(Photo = 111-1193_IMG.JPG)

Huge Male Buffalo at The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Be sure to stand by this huge Bison. It is definitely an EXPERIENCE! Several miles NE of Baker the ZMM Route following Oregon Rt 86 crosses the "ruts" created by multitudes ox pulled covered wagons on the historical Origin Trail. The Interpretive Center, high on a nearby mount, enables a dramatic view of vast semi-barren expanse through which those early pioneers persevered and endured. Don't miss it!
Five miles East of Baker, OR.
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(Photo = ...... ZMM Page = 111-1194c ...... WayPt = 303 `|w|' 3980ft)

The Old Wagon "Ruts", Of The Emigrants On “The Oregon Trail” Can Almost Be Discerned Where They Are Crossed By Modern Highway, Oregon Route 86, ~5 mi East of Baker OR.
….The lined-up marker posts, barely visible in the sage to left of center in this photograph, mark the Historical Oregon Trail. You will learn at the neighboring Oregon Trail Center where to look for the wheel groves left by Ox Drawn Covered Wagons 150 years ago.
….The visitor at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, high on Flag Staff Hill can look East-South-East, to see where the wagons came over the distant mountain ridge and creaked their way through the endless sea of dry dusty sage, to pass on to sources of water and overnight camping, in the valley to the West.
….While on that hill, I got weak knees just thinking what it must have been like walking with the oxen and other wagons, along that endless dry dusty track through this dry desolate land. ... No towns. No roads. No sources of food or fodder. ... Day after day, month after month. ... No one to help, if disease befell or accident struck.
... The overnight camp grounds were located just North of the present day Baker City, OR. (Photo = 112-1205_IMG.JPG)
Viewed: 266 times. Archivel.org, Sept 5, 2006.

Giant Size Covered Ox Wagon, 3-5 Miles East of Prairie City. OR). This twice-normal size “Wagon” is actually a “Tourist Information Cossack”. While Mon and Dad peruse the tourist literature in the opening under the cooling shade of the white cloth cover, kids can climb up to the wagon's driver seat and imagine the oxen pulling a creaking Conestoga, through the sage, towards the mountains seen in this photo's background. With a crack of the leather long whip ... WESTWARD HO !! (Photo = 112-1246_IMG.JPG)

Left to right: Museum/Tourist Info Building, Cool Garden, and 1880 Traditional Wooden Church, John Day, OR. Here the traveler can step back in time 140 years! As you drive into town => Look for the church spire. It is easily found on the north side of the main street, just west of town center, and beside the church, you will see the Town’s Museum.
…. And several blocks West, then North, there is => A Museum, full of Chinese Antiques which is the former home and “Apothecary” of a former immigrant Chinese Doctor, also now also Public Museum. It is located, on the North side of main highway several blocks further West from the location of the above mentioned Museum. Although I didn't have time to investigate, I understand these Chinese Antiques are fabulous!

On NPR, Listen To “Crossing East: The Legacy of Ing 'Doc' Hay”, A Chinese Herb Medicine “Doctor”, Of John Day OR.
Click Here For An 8 Min Voice Recording..
…AFTER this page comes up, you can read a brief introduction, and Click on “8 Minute Listen” at top. Unfortunately the recording is garbled at the 1-2 min point, and weak sound many places.
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These Two Museums Illustrate An Important Fact About Every Small Town. Along the ZMM route. Each town has a long and expansive history. And these town folk are intensely proud of their heritage and their roots. All you have to do is, say something nice about their town, ask a simple question, and just as author Pirsig describes in ZMM, you will experience the nicest local history rewards of traveling the ZMM Route!
…You should be sure to partake of this aspect of town life, otherwise you will miss much of the “real feel of the land” you are traveling through. Any person you meet: ….. stop ….. “make conversation” and "ask 'off hand' questions". Mention something you happened to notice. Try something like; "Beautiful valley. … "I notice lots of cattle" … "You have an interesting museum" … "People are friendly around here", etc. You will be glad you did!
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(Phot 112-1256_IMG.JPG)

Mr. Ken Lang and Ms. Laurie Chapman Stand Before the Carolina Popular Trees, Not Giant Cottonwoods As Stated In ZMM.
As the ZMM Traveler arrives in Dayville, the ZMM Book scenes are immediately obvious, for example the Giant Cottonwoods and one of the two gas stations. But the 'Chinaman's Ditch' is no-where to be seen! These two local folk assisted me in my search for the ditch and provided much local history. The ditch, it turns out is on the house-side of the sidewalk just before the base of the Cottonwoods seen in this photo. The town name, “Dayville,” is not to be confused with the town of “John Day”, which was the previous town along the ZMM Route. It seems that everything in this region is named after John Day!! For example: John Day Town, John Day County, John Day River, John Day Park, John Day Fossil Beds, etc, etc, etc, !!! Peculiarly enough no one knows who John Day was, or even if he ever existed!! His name just appeared in a news paper as among early deaths on the Oregon Trail, and said to be due to Indians. More information on the "Chainman's Ditch" are in my "Sights and Scenes" Album for ZMM Book, Part III.
Dayville OR.
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Be Sure To Stop and Go In To Say Hello To the Owners and Discuss the ZMM Book.

Dayville Mercantile, Dayville, OR. (Photo = 112-1273_IMG.JPG)

Interior Dayville Mercantile Is Your Chance To Step Back In Time and Experience "The Real Thing"!
Just as John Sutherland" says of Miles City, MT: This is a great town," John says, "really great. Surprised there were any like this left. I was looking all over this morning. They’ve got stockmen’s bars, high-top boots, silver-dollar belt buckles, Levis, Stetsons, the whole thing . . . and it’s real. It isn’t just Chamber of Commerce stuff . . . ."
, Dayville OR. In other words, this store is the real thing, not the "tourist traps" that you so often encounter! Here is another chance to step back in time. When you do go into stores like this, be sure to take the time to strike up a conversation with the local people. All you have to do is mention something you happen to notice, and a great conversation will follow!! Of course you should mention you are following the ZMM Route. Please share your interest in the ZMM book and stimulate local awareness in things Pirsig. This, if done by all ZMM Travelers, will promote awareness of Pirsig's books and assist in discovery of additional ZMM Historical Landmarks the whole ZMM Route.
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(Photo = 112-1274 ...... ZMM Page = 090...... WayPt = 339 `|w|' ~2380ft)

Be Sure To Stop and Go In To Say Hello To the Owners and Discuss the ZMM Book.

Dayville Mercantile, Dayville, OR. (Photo = 112-1275_IMG.JPG)