Near Lander in Fremont County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
The Fur Trade
South Pass was first crossed by white men in 1812. The Astorians, a small party of American Fur Company trappers led by Robert Stuart, used it as they traveled east with dispatches for company owner, John Jacob Astor. Even though Stuart noted South Pass in his diary and word of his journey was printed in a Missouri newspaper, it would be another decade before white men "rediscovered" it.
For Jedidiah Smith and other mountain men working for entrepreneur William Ashley in the winter of 1823-24, the rugged Wind River Range in front of you was a barrier between them and the beaver-rich Green River Valley further west. Failing to negotiate these mountains through Union Pass further north, Smith and his men finally reached the Green River by traversing the southern end of the range at this gradual incline. Traveling west with supplies in 1825, Ashley initiated the Rendezvous, an annual event lasting until approximately 1840 when the demand for beaver played out.
Erected by Bureau of Land Management.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.
Location. 42° 19.825′ N, 108° 58.365′ W. Marker is near Lander, Wyoming, in Fremont County. Marker can be reached from State Highway 28, 0.7 miles south of Lander-Pinedale Stage Road. Marker is one of five interpretive signs at the South Pass Overlook. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lander WY 82520, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. South Pass (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named South Pass (within shouting distance of this marker); Twin Mounds (within shouting distance of this marker); The Corridor West (within shouting distance of this marker); The Way West (within shouting distance of this marker); Pacific Springs (approx. 1.4 miles away); Narcissa Prentiss Whitman (approx. 4˝ miles away); Old Oregon Trail (approx. 4˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lander.
More about this marker. Sign donated by First Security Bank of Rock Springs; Roger A. Weidner, President & CEO.
Also see . . . South Pass - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on July 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 569 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.