The Donner Party, consisting of around 87 members, set out from Independence, Missouri in May 1846, seeking a new life in California during the westward migration fever of the time. Motivated by the prospect of prosperity in the fertile lands of California, they departed in a series of covered wagons, eager to embrace the American Dream. However, their journey quickly turned perilous. After taking a lesser-known shortcut proposed by Lansford W. Hastings, they encountered difficult terrain and delayed their progress significantly. Their choice led them to become stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountains when an early winter struck in late 1846.

As heavy snowfall trapped the party, their supplies dwindled rapidly. The members were faced with extreme starvation and isolation. Desperate for survival, some resorted to cannibalism, eating the bodies of deceased travelers among them. The tragedy struck the group most fiercely, leaving some to die in the mountains while others were rescued in early 1847 by rescue parties that had been dispatched to find them. Ultimately, only about half of the original party members made it to California alive. The grueling ordeal underscored the challenges faced by settlers moving westward and highlighted the extreme lengths to which they would go for survival.

The Donner Party’s journey is often discussed in the context of American exploration and settlement, shedding light on the harsh realities of life on the frontier and the impact of poor decisions in uncharted territories. Additionally, the story has permeated American culture, becoming a cautionary tale about the dangers of westward expansion and human endurance against nature's cruelty.