Near McKinnon in Sweetwater County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
1825 Rocky Mountain Rendezvous
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2015
1. 1825 Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Marker
Inscription.
1825 Rocky Mountain Rendezvous. . "When all had come in, he (Ashley) opened his goods, and there was a general jubilee.... We constituted quite a little town, numbering at least eight hundred souls, ...half were women and children. There were some ... who had not seen any groceries, such as coffee, sugar, etc. for several months. The whiskey went off as freely as water, even at the exorbitant price he sold it for. All kinds of sport were indulged in with a heartiness that would astonish more civilized societies." , Taken from, The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, as told to Thomas D. Bonner. this passage describes a raucous social event: the rendezvous. Here, mountain men swapped stories, tested their skills, and shared news of friends. The annual event was actually begun as a time saving measure whereby trappers could replenish supplies and trade furs, without traveling to St. Louis each summer. North of this point on Henry Fork of the Green River, between Birch and Burnt Fork Creeks, the first Rocky Mountain Rendezvous was held during June and July, 1825. Held under the direction of William Ashley the gathering was planned for the Green River, but was moved to Henrys Fork because that site provided better forage for animals. One-hundred twenty trappers gathered to barter their furs at Burnt Fork. Among those assembled were some of the industry's most colorful characters: General Ashley, Jedediah Smith, Bill Sublette, Davey Jackson, Tom Fitzpatrick, Etienne Provost, James Beckwourth and the still green Jim Bridger. On July 2, 1825, Ashley and his men headed for St. Louis with a load of furs worth $50,000. , Held annually throughout the region until 1840, when the demand for beaver pelts decreased, the rendezvous it remembered as one of the western frontiers most colorful traditions. Modern day mountain men still reenact these 19th century "fur fairs".
"When all had come in, he (Ashley) opened his goods, and there was a general jubilee.... We constituted quite a little town, numbering at least eight hundred souls, ...half were women and children. There were some ... who had not seen any groceries, such as coffee, sugar, etc. for several months. The whiskey went off as freely as water, even at the exorbitant price he sold it for. All kinds of sport were indulged in with a heartiness that would astonish more civilized societies."
Taken from, The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, as told to Thomas D. Bonner. this passage describes a raucous social event: the rendezvous. Here, mountain men swapped stories, tested their skills, and shared news of friends. The annual event was actually begun as a time saving measure whereby trappers could replenish supplies and trade furs, without traveling to St. Louis each summer. North of this point on Henry Fork of the Green River, between Birch and Burnt Fork Creeks, the first Rocky Mountain Rendezvous was held during June and July, 1825. Held under the direction of William Ashley the gathering was planned for the Green River, but was moved to Henrys Fork because that site provided better forage for animals. One-hundred twenty trappers gathered to barter their furs at Burnt Fork. Among those assembled were some of the industry's
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most colorful characters: General Ashley, Jedediah Smith, Bill Sublette, Davey Jackson, Tom Fitzpatrick, Etienne Provost, James Beckwourth and the still green Jim Bridger. On July 2, 1825, Ashley and his men headed for St. Louis with a load of furs worth $50,000.
Held annually throughout the region until 1840, when the demand for beaver pelts decreased, the rendezvous it remembered as one of the western frontiers most colorful traditions. Modern day mountain men still reenact these 19th century "fur fairs".
Erected by Wyoming Archives and Historical Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is July 2, 1825.
Location. 41° 1.61′ N, 109° 59.694′ W. Marker is near McKinnon, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County. Marker is on State Highway 414 near Birch Creek Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3040-3088 Wyoming 414, Mc Kinnon WY 82938, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2015
2. 1825 Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Marker
Photographed By William Henry Jackson
3. Green River Rendezvous
Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 706 times since then and 98 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 30, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.