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Nearly two centuries ago, Benjamin Bonneville led the first wagon train across the Rocky Mountains at Wyoming's South Pass. It was an important moment in pioneering history, and a big step toward allowing America to achieve its vision of Manifest Destiny. Most of us who grew up in the 1980s, however, aren't familiar with this bit of history.

Why? Because we spent our childhoods gleaning everything we needed to know about the pioneers from the "Oregon Trail" computer game. With its primitive (yet oddly lush) graphics and addictive gameplay, "Oregon Trail" helped a generation of kids discover settler hardships from buffalo slaughter to death by dysentery.

Since in retrospect the game's scope does seem pretty limited, Asylum has reexamined what we actually learned from this classic piece of educational software.


Amanda Seyfried -- Todays Crush

    Attending the premiere of "Mamma Mia!" at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

    Jim Spellman, WireImage.com

    Shown on the cover of a poster for "Mamma Mia!" the movie.

    Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images

    Plays Sophie in "Mamma Mia!"

    Universal

    As Sophie in "Mamma Mia!" alongside her character's mother played by Meryl Streep.

    Universal

    As Karen in "Mean Girls".

    Paramount

    At Kari Feinstein's Style Lounge.

    John Sciulli, WireImage.com

    As Samantha in "Nine Lives".

    Magnolia Pictures

    Attending the Los Angeles premiere of "Alpha Dog".

    L. Cohen, WireImage.com

    As Julie Beckley in "Alpha Dog".

    Universal

    Attending the Los Angeles Premiere of "Thief."

    Jesse Grant, WireImage.com