The Oatmans were the last family in a wagon train that left Illinois 7 months earlier. 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.
Full Olive Oatman story
This free audio playlist will give you and your travel group all the context and backstory you need so you can be ready to experience the locations yourselves.
Listen together or share and listen individually.
Museum Preview
Here is what The Resilient Olive Oatman museum experience might look like. We provide a navigation guide, including terrain information, but most importantly you’ll have a glimpse of the 3 In Situ Museum locations!
After listening to the full audio playlist, go experience this story for yourselves in the mobile app.
Free “Olive Extras”
Discussion Guides & Lesson Plans
Keep the learning going!
Click on the image below for your own copy of the Discussion Guides & Lesson Plans doc for use before during, and after the Resilient Olive Oatman experience.
Further Research
Go deeper into the Olive Oatman story!!
Click on the image below for your own copy of the Further Research doc with character lists, book recommendations, interesting articles, even an AI Olive.
