 A number of historic trails crossed through Wyoming including the well-known Oregon Trail and less well-known trails such as the Overland Trail. The Overland Trail became an important immigrant, freight, and stagecoach route starting in the 1860s. The Overland Trail was used as an alternative route to the Oregon and Mormon trails. The government established the trail starting in Atchison, Kansas. The trails split from other trails in Julesburg, Colorado and continued along the South Platte River. The section of the Overland Trail between Laramie and Fort Bridger followed much of the route explored by Howard Stansbury who wanted to find a more direct route from Utah to Kansas than using the Oregon Trail over South Pass. From Fort Bridger, the route followed the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake City. The Overland Trail was used by the Overland Stage Company owned by Ben Holiday to transport passengers and mail to Utah during the early 1860s. The stage line operated until its services were no longer needed with the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Today we parallel sections of the Overland Trail as we cross southern Wyoming on Interstate 80. From the University of Wyoming Extension, I'm Wendy Kelly, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming.