This book tells the story of the St. Joe Road and its feeder trails and ferry crossings. The St. Joe Road began in St. Joseph, Missouri, and joined the Independence Road just west of present-day Marysville, Kansas. These two roads formed the Oregon and California Trails. In the mid-1800s, a third road from the Omaha/Council Bluffs area joined the main trail at the Platte River in what is now the state of Nebraska. Perched on the western edge of civilization, St. Joseph, Missouri, was the most frequently chosen jumping-off point for emigrants during the years of 1849, 1850, and 1851. The slogan "Pike's Peak or Bust!" was a common sight around town as the emigrants gathered on the banks of the Missouri River and began outfitting their wagons and making preparations to begin their trip west. The emigrants own words from their diaries and journals are used to tell the story of their experiences on The St. Joe Road. The book also includes detailed driving instructions for finding the trail today, complete with photographs and maps to guide today's travelers along this historical route.