The speaker will begin at 7 pm.  In this presentation, Madeline Yanov focuses on the exploration of westward migration, starting with the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  She traces routes and trails from the Midwest originating in the 1820s, extending westward to the Pacific Coast and southwest to regions like Texas, New Mexico, and southern California, spanning the West until the late 1860s.  She will cover famous trails such as the Oregon/California Trails, the Mormon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, as well as some lesser-known routes such as the Bozeman, Central Overland Trail, and the Butterfield Overland Trail, among others.  This presentation also sheds light on the transforming role played by the transcontinental railroad in the settlement of the West.  Madeline will answer questions at the end of her presentation. A business meeting will follow.