Oxen Road was/is located from Nisqually House to the bluff above where the 1833 Fort was located. Archibald McDonald with some other employees built the road in 1833. The road is then mentioned through various publications but nothing specific. 1
Oxen Road - for more photos and copies available at the DuPont Museum
This oxen road was the first man-made road in Southern Puget Sound. At the present time, only a short section of the road remains. The lower, section of the road was destroyed during construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad (now the Burlington Northern Santa Fe). Construction of security and fire roads for the DuPont Explosives Plant removed the upper central section. The location of the road from the crest of the bluff to the 1833 Fort Nisqually is uncertain due to construction and road building also associated with the explosives plant. The remaining lower section of the road is plainly visible through presently overgrown with brush. It was over this road that all of supplies for the Fort were brought from the sailing ships. And it was over this road that the furs and agricultural products were carted to the ships sailing for distant ports. 2
The road was a neccessary for the incoming ships and supplies, Leighton writes
One reason fro Cheif Trader Herron’s dissatisfaction with the site was the poorness of the soil on the south side of the Sequalitchew Creek where the warehouse had been built on the beach. There was better soil on the north side of the creek but that would necessitate an expensive bridge near the mouth of the creek to the only suitable place on the beach for the warehouse. A road was built from the warehouse on the beack to a level tract above. There the first fort was constructed near two large oak trees known as “The Twins”. 3
Based on this photo I would assume the creek is to the left and not pictured. If you have any information about Oxen Road photographs please don’t hesitate to contact us as we would love to talk more about it.