Baker City, OR was once considered to be the premier social center along the Oregon Trail and once could boast the largest population of any city in Oregon. From nearby Flagstaff Hill travelers got their first look at the Blue Mountains indicating they were near the end of their journey. But first they had to go from Farewell Bend on the Snake River through the treacherous Burnt River Canyon and across Virtue Flat where ruts are still visible today. From Flagstaff Hill they went into the Powder River Valley and on to the challenge of the Blue Mountain crossing.
In later times when gold mining was active, Baker City became a support center for the surrounding gold mining towns and a focal point of activity. The Baker Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A visit to the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on Flagstaff Hill is recommended.
