American Experience (1988)

Episode Overview

Title: The Donner Party Plot: Among the many tales of 19th-century pioneers, few captivate the American spirit like this harrowing saga set against the backdrop of the harshest winter ever documented in the High Sierras. In June 1846, 87 individuals, including men, women, and children, embarked on a daunting 2,000-mile trek from Illinois to California. They loaded their large wagons with supplies and employed help for the journey. However, when the group’s leaders opted for an untested shortcut in a bid to avoid the impending winter, only half of them would survive the ordeal.