Eliza P. Donner Houghton

Expedition of the Donner Party and its Tragic Fate

No. of episodes

86

Latest episode

2025-07-30

Where can you listen?

Embark on a chilling journey with the Donner Party, a group of American settlers driven by the 1840s westering fever towards California. Stranded in the Sierra Nevada during the harsh winter of 1846–1847, the emigrants faced unimaginable choices, with some resorting to cannibalism. While this gruesome aspect has become an infamous hallmark of the Donner Party, it was but a small part of their harrowing plight. The author, merely 4 years old at the time, provides a first-hand account of the journey and subsequent rescue efforts. The latter part of the book offers poignant reminiscences of the orphaned child, shuttled between families during his upbringing. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia & Tricia G)