Settlers of Catan, the classic board game about competitors for resources on an island, it turns out, is the perfect game system for a game about the westward expansion of the continental U.S. Thus was born Settlers of America: Trails to Rails, part of the Catan Histories line.

"While the crowded East still offers options, its resources dwindle." As I understand this, players start off in the Eastern U.S., but to stay competitive in the game need to expand westward, which offers a greater variety of resources which will help the ambitious player on his path to victory.

We ordered extra copies of this because not only is it a great historical game, a great educational game, but it's also just a great fun game because it uses the classic Catan mechanics we all love.