| MOUNTAIN MEN PAST &PRESENT |
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Only the term “mountain man” can match that of “cowboy” for the wealth of color and lore associated with the “winning of the West.”
Cowboys, of course, roamed pretty much everywhere west of the Mississippi and have outlived even their almost mythical epoch of the late 1800s. Mountain men, though, who made do with less (after all, cowboys always had their horses and cattle), pretty much went the way of the beaver hat by the late 1850s.
For every Bat Masterson, Bill Hickock, and Wyatt Earp, there’s an equally notable mountain man. John C. Fremont and William Sublette have a couple of Wyoming counties and mountain peaks named after them. Jedediah Smith and Kit Carson have certainly garnered enough press to earn their places in popular Western culture. And mountain man Jim Bridger is so revered around here that visitors to Wyoming will find no fewer than 21 places honoring him. Fitting, then, that a .40 caliber half-stock rifle of his should end up in the region’s most notable collection of mountain man history and memorabilia—Pinedale, Wyoming’s Museum of the Mountain Man.
Even more fitting, the museum is situated on a hill not far from the site of the original Green River Rendezvous, which began in 1833 in the “Valley of the Green.” Over 3,000 mountain men, Indians, fir traders, and missionaries gathered there to barter and trade their goods. The cry “Meet me on the Green!” was a reminder and a reassurance to trappers, who spent long and isolated winters gathering beaver pelts, and to traders who traveled countless miles on hazardous, often life-threatening trails. These rendezvous sometimes lasted for months, time enough to get supplies, renew friendships, swap stories, trade, tipple, and, yes, debauch. Of the 16 rendezvous held during the height of the Rocky Mountain fur trade, six were located in the Green River Valley.
Exhibits at the museum provide a good starting point for visitors heading to the annual Green River Rendezvous, a re-creation of those original mountain man gatherings. This year’s rendezvous is replete with activities for the entire family and runs July 8-11. The Rendezvous Pageant, where over 200 members of the community perform in original costumes, is set for Sunday, July 11 at 1 p.m. at the Pinedale Rodeo Grounds. For more information visit the Green River Rendezvous Pageant Association’s website at www.meetmeonthegreen.com or call 307-367-2242.
The museum captures the ways and lore of these hearty individuals. Clothing, artifacts, mounted animals, even a tipi help bring the days of the mountain man alive. The museum also colorfully showcases western wildlife, Indians, fur trapping, wagon trains, mountain men, and even bison in its spacious 15,000-square-foot facility. Bridger’s rifle, given to him in 1853, was at one time part of the Buffalo Bill collection. Fortunately it has found a permanent home in this rewarding and informative setting.
The Museum of the Mountain Man is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., through September 30. Admission fees are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for kids 6-12 years old. For more information call toll free 1-877-686-6266 or go on-line at museumofthemountainman.com. —Mike Calabrese
Copyright 2004 by FPI (Focus Productions, Inc)., P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publishers.
Mountain Country is a free visitors’ guide published annually in May and distributed at hundreds of locations throughout Jackson Hole, Cody, and other regional communities. To receive a copy in the mail, send $5 to Mountain Country, P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001.
Publishers: Bob Woodall & Wade McKoy, dba Focus Productions, Inc. (FPI)
Editors: Mike Calabrese, Wade McKoy, Bob Woodall
Art Direction & Ad Design: Janet Melvin
Advertising Sales:
JACKSON: Ike Faust, 307-690-5908, 307-733-6995 email: mail.focus@wyom.net
DUBOIS & PINEDALE: Janet Melvin 307-733-6995
CODY: Guy & Barb Hull 307-527-7808