The Prescott family heads West. Father Zebulon (Karl Malden) and Mother Rebecca (Agnes Moorehead) soon die in the wild rapids of the river. Daughter Eve (Carroll Baker) marries frontiersman Linus Rawlings (Jimmy Stewart), and they start a farm near the river where her parents died. Daughter, Lilith, (Debbie Reynolds) goes on to St. Louis where she becomes a dance hall girl. She attracts the attention of professional gambler, Cleve (Gregory Peck). When she gets word she’s inherited a gold mine in California, debt-ridden Cleve decides to join the same wagon train she’s on and heads west. Her mine is worthless, but Lily and Cleve marry and settle in San Francisco. Back at Eve’s farm, the Civil War has taken its toll. Linus was killed in the war, and now her son, Zeb (George Peppard) goes to war. He returns home to find his mother dead. He gives the farm to his brother and joins the army where he tries to keep peace with the Indians. Finally he moves to Arizona, settles, and marries. Cleve has died a railroad tycoon. Lilith moves to Arizona because she wants Zeb, now a marshal, to help her with the ranch she owns there.