Staking a Claim

Q: Will I be able to see my claim on the website right away?
A: No—but it will be there before the cows come home. Although Virtual Trails is a modern, high-tech company, we have 19th century notions about content ratings. As part of our commitment to maintaining a family-friendly and kid-safe environment, all claims and attachments will be reviewed by our staff before they're posted on the website.

Q: How long will it take for my claim to appear on the website?
A: Within two days after you stake your claim, we'll notify you of its posting. That’s just about the time it took to travel 20 to 25 miles in a wagon, back in the day.

Q: What if I don’t have an ancestor who walked on the trail? Can I post a claim anyway?
A: Yes. A desire to preserve family history is just one of the many reasons our members stake claims on the trail. Whether you want to record memories of a personal adventure, honor a loved one, or share stories and trivia with other trail or history enthusiasts, Virtual Trails can take you there. Many early pioneers had little but their dreams, creativity and resourcefulness to guide them, and that's really all you need to join the adventure.

Q: What if I want to submit an exhibit to the Virtual Museum but I don’t have the attachments ready today?
A: No problem. You can begin your adventure by selecting your trail segment today, and add up to three attachments to your Virtual Museum exhibit further down the trail. Pioneer travelers seldom had everything they needed when they left home; instead, they planned on acquiring supplies along the route.

Q: How can I share my claim with all my friends?
A: Sharing is easy on Virtual Trails. Your claim will be sent to you via email so you can send it out to your friends back home faster than greased lightning. (Fortunately, unlike the travelers or the 1800s, you don't have to wait for the Pony Express, and digital imagery is much clearer than daguerreotype photography!)

Paying for Your Claim

Q: I selected a trail segment, but when I returned to finish the claim and make the purchase, it wasn’t available. Where did it go?
A: Hhmmm. Looks like you didn't strike while the iron was hot. Before you can call your claim your own, you need to stake it AND register it with the Land Office (or the credit card company, in this case). Remember: never put off till tomorrow that which you can do today.

Q: Is my purchase of a segment tax deductible?
A: No. Although we are proud sponsors of the Mormon Battalion Trek, Virtual Trails is not a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Virtual Museum

Q: What happens to all my attachments?
A: Your attachments will have a permanent home in the Virtual Museum, where they will help preserve the legacy of America’s trails. Unlike the experience of many travelers on the original trails, your cherished personal belongings won’t be tossed out to make room in the wagon for necessities.

Q: What is the Virtual Museum?
A: Virtual Trails is honored to host the Virtual Museum as a place for our travelers to preserve, retain and share prized heirlooms with the rest of America. Most pioneers were humble folk who regarded their possessions as pretty small potatoes and their lives as uneventful. Focused on survival, they certainly didn't consider the historic significance of their journeys. Consequently, the rare journal entries and artifacts that survived the trek across the plains are carefully guarded and treasured bits of history today. When you upload photographs and audio and video files related to your claim, we will preserve these links to the past in the Virtual Museum, where they will inspire future travelers.

Content and Functionality

Q: I’ve learned or done some things I’d like to share to enhance Virtual Trails. Do you accept content from folks like me?
A: Yes—we’d love to add your content, and we invite you to contact us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Like the pioneer travelers who studied books to glean from the knowledge and experience of those who knew the trails, virtual trail travelers thrive on information. It is our hope travelers will share their knowledge and help generate the most current and accurate information about the trails.  We can’t pay in gold dust, but we may be able to offer a horse or some flour in trade <wink>.

Q: I’m not sure if I had an ancestor who traveled the trails. Can I search for my last name on your website?
A: Yes. All Virtual Trails content is searchable—both on Google Earth and on our website—and it's much easier than finding a needle in a haystack. One of the primary objectives of Virtual Trails is to connect family members by making it easy for our users to submit family history information and search the information submitted by others.

Q: Will additional trails be added in the future?
A: You can bet your bottom dollar! Keep your ear to the ground, and soon you’ll hear wagon wheels and hoof beats on the Santa Fe Trail, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express Trail, and others from our country’s rich history.

Q: How accurate is the information on Virtual Trails?
A: We like to think of the information on Virtual Trails as all wool and no shoddy, and for the most part that’s true. But as we mine many diverse sources in our research—original documents, history experts, local researchers, federal studies—we find they don’t always agree. Over time, after all, trails and streams meandered and stories evolved. While we can’t guarantee 100% accuracy, Virtual Trails represents our best effort to glean the truest portrayal of historical trails and events.

Technical Stuff

Q I received notice that my claim was posted, but I can’t see it. What should I do?
A: Before you log into Virtual Trails, make sure Google Earth is installed on your computer, and that your computer meets the following minimum specifications: system requirements

Q: My claim bubble doesn’t show all the text I submitted. Where did it go?
A: Now hold your horses . . . it’s all right there. Just click on the "Show more" link at the bottom of the bubble to bring all of your text into view.

Q: I’ve never used Google Earth. How will I find what I’m looking for?
A: Take courage—if you can click a mouse or open a folder, you have what it takes. Just follow this link to the Google Earth tutorial: View Google Earth tutorial.

Q: Is there a restriction on the size and number of files I can attach to my museum exhibit?
A: Yes. Each exhibit can include a maximum of three files.  Audio files should be limited to mp3 format and file size of 5 mg.   Very generous, especially considering the Pony Express charged $5 (roughly $129 in 2007 dollars!) to carry a half-ounce letter.

Q: What types of files can I upload to my Virtual Museum Exhibit?
A: To lighten our bandwidth load, the Virtual Museum's server currently accepts only Word or text documents, image, & audio files (mp3 only). Maybe when we upgrade to a prairie schooner we can carry a wider variety of goods. (Come to think of it, we haven’t heard of one backpacker who carried a cast iron skillet in his pack!)

Q: Why must I title my images and documents?
A: By making your titles descriptive and educational, you’ll help us provide a context for people to appreciate the significance of the Virtual Museum exhibits. (You may enjoy rummaging around in a rucksack to look for things, but we don’t. Besides, old family photos without names and dates are about as useful as a pig in a poke!) You can also add a comment about the files in your claim.

Q: Is there a limit on the number of words I can put in my claim?
A: Yes. The word count for each claim is limited to 3,000. That should be plenty of room to speak your piece (if you don't beat around the bush).

Q: I’m pretty sure there are other claims on the trail, but I can’t find them. Where is everybody?
A: Click on the folders to the left of the Google Earth image; the links inside will take you to the other claims. In remote areas of the far west, travelers often traveled for days without running into other folk, but we realize some of you modern travelers are short on time, so we’ve made it super quick and easy for you!

Q: I submitted a claim but never received my verification email. Should I be concerned?
A: Nah. Folks used to give letters to others traveling the trail and then cross their fingers in the hope they would reach their loved ones—eventually. We’re way more reliable than that; if you haven't received your confirmation email within two days, you can assume the mail didn’t go through. Please contact us, and we'll look into it before sundown.

Q: Help! I forgot my password (or user name).
A: Now, that's a pretty pickle—but don't you worry!  Just click on the “Forgot my password” button, and we'll send an email to jog your memory.

Q:  Can I promote my business in a claim?
A: Businesses are offered additional benefits through our Mercantile Claim process.

Contact us directly: Apply here