Audio tour The Resilient Olive Oatman

The story of Olive Oatman is one of survival in the face of unrelenting hardship. It's also a story of the resilience of the human spirit and the love of family.

The Oatmans were the last family in a wagon train that had left 7 months earlier from Illinois. They were going west seeking a better life but now found themselves struggling down the Gila Trail in southern Arizona. With barely any supplies, fatigued and hungry, they had no idea how much danger still lay ahead. 

On February 18, 1851 the Oatman family was attacked by a band of Tolkepaya Indians while camped alongside the Gila River. Both parents and 5 children were brutally killed, while 13 year old Olive and her 8 year old sister Mary Anne were taken captive by the killers. 

See for yourselves, where the legend began. 

Welcome to The Resilient Olive Oatman, an In Situ Museum. 

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DETAILS:

- 4 audio guide tracks across 3 locations, telling the story of Olive Oatman
- Estimated drive time from Phoenix: ~2.5 hours each way
- Terrain: mostly paved roads; 9 miles of mild but bumpy dirt road; last 1.5 miles some unfriendly rocks… high clearance recommended (truck, 4runner, Jeep, etc.)
- Required passes: None

BEFORE YOU GO:

1. Listen to the FREE Olive Oatman audio playlist
2. Watch Olive Oatman preview video

After the playlist and video:

1. Download all the files here in this app (for offline use!)
2. Pack a ton of water and snacks, sun protection, device chargers, etc.
3. EXPERIENCE one of the greatest stories of the American West!

For more information about who we are and what we do, visit insitumuseums.com or check out our YouTube channel.