A Minnesotan reflects on creating The Oregon Trail as the game turns 50

If you went to school somewhere in the United States, sometime in the past 50 years, chances are you’ve played the legendary educational computer game The Oregon Trail.

Thanks to that game, millions of kids have forded rivers, hunted deer and, yes, even died of dysentery — all while learning about the perilous journey settlers took from Missouri to Oregon in the nineteenth century.

The Oregon Trail turns 50 years old this month — and it was actually created right here in Minnesota. So host Cathy Wurzer took a look at its history and impact with Paul Dillenberger, one of the three co-creators of the original game.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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