Growing up in Wyoming on the trail, Morris developed a passion for history and the western way of life. Guiding numerous trail expeditions, driving teams, making saddles, and listening to his grandfather's freighting stories, Morris realized people would enjoy the trail experience first hand. Reflecting upon the pioneers that went west, he states, "They didn't look back and they didn't turn back. They kept pushing on. This is the pioneer way of life, they tested themselves every step of the way. We want to give people that opportunity today. I believe that in every person there still lies a spirit of the pioneer."
In 1989, Morris Carter and his family began wagon expeditions and have expanded their tours to include many adventures. The Carter family traveled on the 1990 Casper, Wyoming 100 Year Anniversary Wagon Train to commemorate Wyoming's centennial. Carter helped organize and lead the 1990 Wyoming Centennial Wagon Train, as the Wagon Master of the Blue Circle. The wagon train lasted 31 days, traveling on the Bridger Trail, from Casper to Cody. The Centennial Wagon Train had 100 wagons and 400 horseback riders when the train ended in Cody. The Carter family built their first four Conestoga wagons in 1990 that traveled on the Wyoming Centennial Wagon Train.
Carter conducted tours between Tummacacori Mission and the Tubac Presidio on the Juan Baptiste De Anza Trail, a National Historic Trail, from 1994 to 1996. In 1996, Morris rode with the 200th commemorative year ride of the De Anza Trail. Through Historic Trail Expeditions, and now Historic Trails West, The Carter Family has covered over 3,500 miles from 1993 to 1997, doing tours on the Oregon, California and Pony Express Trails.
Re-Enacting the Oregon Trail 1843 to 1993
In 1993, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail, Carter and his four daughters Oneta, Ivy, Airian, and Katrena organized and led the Official Historic Trails Wagon Train. Established the trail route campsites, and organized the logistics including permits and other requirements such as special permissions and insurance coverage; to cover 2,600 miles through 6 states. The Carter family also built 3 more Conestoga wagons to traverse the trail. They began on May 2, in Independence, Missouri and ended November 6, in Astoria, Oregon. The trip lasted 6 months and 6 days, crossing four mountain ranges and fording four rivers. As a result, the Carter Family brought the attention of the world to the Historic Trails of the American West.
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PO Box 428
Mills, Wyoming 82644