Discovery of gold in California leads to a rush of immigrants, many of whom die from poor preparation, and few of whom actually strike it rich. Sam Brannan and James King of William are among the citizens who fight against the rampant lawlessness. Some of them are killed, but eventually law, order, and democracy prevail. Mining moves to Nevada, and California becomes a peaceful farming state.; Dr. Marcus Whitman has a passion to go to the Oregon country as a missionary. With another couple he and his wife make the journey; the wives are reputedly the first white women to cross the Great Divide. Their route becomes the Oregon Trail, and Whitman helps other parties make the trek. Cayuse Indians kill the Whitmans and others, after which the federal government takes steps to police and organize the territory.; For eighteen months, through punishing conditions and sometimes under Indian attack, Pony Express riders carry rapid mail across the west. They help keep the nation together as the Civil War approaches, but are soon superseded by the transcontinental telegraph.; After several fitful starts, a true transcontinental mail route is established by John Butterfield. He sets up way stations all along the route, while his drivers fight off Indians and contend with the elements.; Putting unfounded trust in their guidebooks, the Donner party takes a treacherous route west and squanders a chance to cross the mountains before snow falls. Starvation takes its toll as they are trapped in snow, and only 47 survive out of 89 souls.; Crews working from both sides of the country complete a transcontinental rail line in 1869.; When Joseph Smith is killed, Brigham Young leads refugee Mormons to the west. He has no destination, but promises he will know the place when he sees it. He approves a site in the Great Salt Lake Valley, and the settlement grows to a rich new community.; An arrogant cavalry officer falsely accuses Cochise of kidnapping and tries to arrest him, touching off 25 years of war.