Near Walden in Jackson County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Fur Hat: The Opening of North Park
Photographed by Craig Baker
1. Fur Hat Marker
The first Euro-Americans ventured into North Park in search of beaver pelts. These pelts were used to satisfy a fashion craze for beaver hats in Europe. By 1820, fur trappers were working along the mountain streams in and around North Park. Within two decades, thousands of dollars worth of beaver pelts had been taken from North Park. Some of the most noted fur trappers who visited or trapped in North Park include Kit Carson, Bill Williams, Jim Bridger, "Pegleg" Smith, and Milton Sublette.
In time, as settlement increased along the Front Range, North Park's abundance of wildlife attracted market hunters who exploited the valley's game to sell in new communities like Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, and Boulder.
Did You Know?
Famous explorer and surveyor John C. Fremont passed through North Park in 1844. In his journal, Fremont described what he found here, calling it a "paradise to all grazing animals."
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.
Location. 40° 41.962′ N, 106° 14.729′ W.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies and on the Continental Divide. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Timber: A Growing Need (here, next to this marker); Riches From the Earth (a few steps from this marker); Ranching: An Enduring Legacy (a few steps from this marker); The “Iron Horse” Comes to North Park (a few steps from this marker); Hunting in the "Bull Pen" (within shouting distance of this marker); Northwest Colorado (approx. 2.9 miles
Photographed by Craig Baker
2. Fur Hat Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker
3. Brocker
Photographed by Craig Baker
4. Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
Credits. This page was last revised on February 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 9, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
