New Haven in Franklin County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Private John Colter

New Haven

— Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail —

Private John Colter Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2017

1. Private John Colter Marker

Inscription. Private John Colter was among the first members to be recruited by Captain Meriwether Lewis for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Colter was a skillful hunter, scout, and translator and he quickly became a valuable member of the party.

After almost three years of traveling with the Corps of Discovery, Private Colter was given permission to leave the expedition on August 18, 1806, near the Mandan Village (in present day North Dakota).

He was the only member of the expedition allowed to leave early from his enlistment. Colter wished to return to the wilderness and the mountains. He is credited with being the first white man to explore the region which later would become Yellowstone National Park. In 1810, Colter returned to Missouri to settle near the mouth of Boeuf Creek, located about three miles east of here.

Artist John Clymer depicts John Colter meeting the Indians in the Rocky Mountains.
Sign sponsored by Dr. Kim Colter and Elaine Menke.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers

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. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 18, 1806.

Location. 38° 36.901′ N, 91° 12.782′ W. Marker is in New Haven, Missouri, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of Miller Street and Miller Street, on the left when traveling east on Miller Street. Marker is located in John Colter Memorial Park, beside the sidewalk along the New Haven Flood Control Levee, overlooking the Missouri River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Haven MO 63068, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. New Haven (a few steps from this marker); The Lewis and Clark Expedition (a few steps from this marker); Colter's Escape from the Blackfeet (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Private John Colter (a few steps from this marker); From the Mountains to Missouri (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Private John Colter (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic New Haven (within shouting distance of this marker); The Iron Horse Arrives (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Haven.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. John Colter

Also see . . .

Private John Colter Marker (<i>tall view; overlooking the Missouri River at New Haven</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2017

2. Private John Colter Marker (tall view; overlooking the Missouri River at New Haven)

Private John Colter. In mid-August 1806, Colter was granted an early discharge from the Corps to become a fur trapper in partnership with two Illinois trappers, Forest Hancock and Joseph Dickson. The two men had followed the explorers as they drifted the Missouri downstream back to the Hidatsa and Mandan villages. Lewis and Clark agreed to let Colter leave the party as long as the other Corps members agreed to continue to St. Louis to be discharged. The men agreed, and Colter respectfully parted from the Corps. He and his partners returned to the Three Forks region of the upper Missouri, a trapping enterprise that lasted only six weeks due to a falling out between Colter and the two others. Colter pursued his itinerant life as a trapper; in 1807. he joined a venture led by Manuel Lisa on the Big Horn River, and in 1809, he and former expedition member John Potts accompanied the Andrew Henry outfit, and were assigned to trap in Blackfeet country. (Submitted on August 8, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Private John Colter Marker (<i>wide view; overlooking the Missouri River at New Haven</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2017

3. Private John Colter Marker (wide view; overlooking the Missouri River at New Haven)

John Colter Memorial Park Sign (<i>marker located north side of park; near New Haven Levee</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2017

4. John Colter Memorial Park Sign (marker located north side of park; near New Haven Levee)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 417 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 8, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.