Daniel in Sublette County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Green River Rendezvous

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 25, 2014

1. Green River Rendezvous Marker

Inscription. From the first big beaver season in 1824 to the last Rendezvous in 1840, the Green River Valley was the center of the Rocky Mountain fur trade. Six of the 16 summer Rendezvous (1833, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1839, 1840) were held here at the confluence of Horse Creek and the Green River. For mountain men who trapped during the long cold months for the best fur, the summer Rendezvous provided an opportunity to sell beaver hides, re-supply for the coming year, meet old friends, and celebrate. Rendezvous lasted up to a month and were attended by as many as 3000 trappers, traders, visitors, and Indians coming from hundreds of miles in all directions.
The Green River Rendezvous provided a stage for the first Catholic Mass performed in the West by Father DeSmet, the arrival of the first white women to cross the Continental Divide, the sketches of artist Alfred Jacob Miller, the adventures of Scotsman William Drummond Stewart (Wyoming’s first tourist), and colorful stories about men like Jim Bridger, and Kit Carson.

Since 1936, The Green River Rendezvous has been commemorated each year with a celebration the second weekend in July. The Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale is dedicated to interpreting and preserving the history of this colorful era.

Erected by Sublette County Museum Board

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.

Location. 42° 51.987′ N, 110° 4.288′ W. Marker is in Daniel, Wyoming, in Sublette County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 189 and Nighthawk Lane, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 189. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12994 US Highway 189, Daniel WY 83115, 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. Narcissa Prentiss Whitman (within shouting distance of this marker); Pinckey W. Sublette (approx. 1.4 miles away); First Holy Mass in Wyoming (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Prairie of the Mass (approx. 1.9 miles away); Fort Bonneville (approx. 3.8 miles away); Ancient Pronghorn Kill Site (approx. 4.6 miles away); Wind River Mountains (approx. 4.6 miles away); Rendezvous - Birth of an Empire (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Daniel.

Also see . . .
1. Rocky Mountain Rendezvous. Rocky Mountain Rendezvous (in trapper jargon) was an annual gathering (1825–1840) at various locations held by a fur trading company at which trappers and mountain men sold their furs and hides and replenished their supplies. The large fur companies
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 25, 2014

2. Green River Rendezvous Marker
put together teamster driven mule trains which packed in whiskey and supplies into a pre-announced location each spring-summer and set up a trading fair—the rendezvous—and at the season's end, packed furs out, normally the British Companies to Fort Vancouver in the Pacific Northwest, and to one of the northern Missouri River ports such as St. Joseph, Missouri, if an American overland fur trading company. (Submitted on January 28, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. The Artist and the Laird. In New Orleans one early spring morning in 1837, Alfred Miller (1810–1874), a young artist recently returned from studying in Europe, was surprised by the appearance of a stranger of commanding stature in his studio. The visitor was William Drummond Stewart, a Scottish ex-army officer who was planning a hunting expedition to the Rockies. Stewart must have liked what he saw of Miller’s work, for he subsequently invited him to join the expedition as its artist. So began an adventure for the reserved Miller that would enable him to observe and draw the Western frontier landscape and wildlife as well as intimate scenes from Native American life. (Submitted on January 28, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords.

Photographed By Alfred Jacob Miller, circa 1837

3. Green River Rendezvous Marker

fur trade

<i>Our Camp</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alfred Jacob Miller

4. Our Camp

Sir William Stewart is depicted on the white horse.

Photographed By Alfred Jacob Miller

5. Green River Rendezvous Marker

Alfred Jacob Miller, self portrait.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 832 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 28, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.