Gage County Historical Society Annual Meeting and Banquet- Open to the Public. Nebraska Humanities speaker Jim McKee will be speaking on- "Trails Connect In Nebraska". Mr. McKee will take you on the road to the past with stories of trials and tribulations along the Oregon Trail. The peak years of use for the trail were from 1846?1869. There were many trails that criss-crossed Nebraska with their eye, at one time or another on the original Oregon Trail, first used by trappers, hunters and gold seekers, followed by thousands and thousands of settlers looking for a better way of life in the West.