Green River in Sweetwater County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
William Ashley - 1825
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2015
1. William Ashley - 1825 Marker
Leaving Missouri in 1824, William Ashley led a large group of men west in search of riches - beaver. Ashley and his crew arrived on the banks of the Green River (or Seeds-ke-dee as it was called then) on April 9th, 1825 near the mouth of the Big Sandy River north of here. The men divided into four groups to explore the area for beaver.
Ashley supervised the building of "bull boats" - clumsy crafts of buffalo hides stretched over a willow frame and then led 7 men down the Green River. His was the first recorded river trip on the Green.
The voyagers passed by Expedition Island on Sunday, April 25, 1825. They walked around many rapids including Ashley Falls, now under Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
They continued downriver through the Green's canyons until they arrived in the Uinta Basin (now Utah) on June 16th. From there, Ashley left the river and made his way back to this area for the first of the great annual rendezvous held on Henry's Fork in July 1825.
Though not widespread, word of Ashley's decent of the river gradually spread in the "States" letting others know that river travel down the Green was possible. Later mountain men used dugout canoes made from cottonwood logs to float the Green.
Erected by Green River Greenbelt and City
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is April 25, 1825.
Location. 41° 31.378′ N, 109° 28.282′ W. Marker is in Green River, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County. It can be reached from South 2nd East Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 398 South 2nd East Street, Green River WY 82935, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Wyoming’s Westward Expansion Trails Region. 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. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Manly - 1849 (a few steps from this marker); Major Wesley Powell and Party (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Unknown (within shouting distance of this marker); Buzz Holstrom (within shouting distance of this marker); John Wesley Powell, 1871 (within shouting distance of this marker); The French Trio - 1938 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Damsite Surveys (within shouting distance of this marker); Norm Nevills & A.K. Reynolds - 1940's (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Green River.
More about this marker. This marker is located next to the perimeter walking path in Island Park. Island Park occupies the northwestern end of Expedition Island and is across the bridge at the south end of
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 10, 2015
2. William Ashley - 1825 Marker
This marker is the first in the line of markers.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer
3. Bull boats
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,052 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 4, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
