The American Mountain Man
Historic Trail Town on west side of Cody

Dedicated to all Mountain Men known and unknown for their essential part in the opening of the American West. We gratefully acknowledge the way their uniue lifestyle has profoundly influenced our own. Erected by the Brotherhood of the American Mountain Men.

In Tribute to John Colter
First known white American explorer to enter this locale in the fall of 1807. Probably crossing the river 1/4 mile east of this point (right), before discovering “Colter’s Hell” 1/2 mile to the west (left).

Born and raised in Virginia in 1770’s. A valued member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Ocean, 1803-1806. Among the first American “Free Trappers” in the Rocky Mountains, along with Joseph Dickson and Forrest Bancock, 1806-1807. First to explore Big Horn Basin, Yellowstone Park, and Grand Teton regions, 1807-1808. Immortalized by his legendary “run for life” escape, from the hostile Blackfeet Indians, 1808. Quit the mountains in 1810, married and settled on a farm near St. Louis, Missouri. Died of disease in 1813, unheralded, but not forgotten. His final resting place has since been lost. Erected by the John Colter Society, 1981. A legacy for all who adventure.

George Drouillard (c. 1775-1810)
Born to a French Canadian father and Shawnee mother, Drouillard joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1803 as chief interpreter and hunter. Lewis said of him, “I scarcely know how we should exist were it not for the exertions of this excellent hunter.” While thus employed, he was possibly the first white man to trap on the upper Missouri River. In 1807, he joined Manuel Lisa’s trading expeidtion. During two solitary winter treks on foot to notify various tribes of Lisa’s fort on the Yellowstone, Drouillard journeyed up the Stinking Water (Shoshone River) near this spot. His explorations of this and other major rivers to the east totalled 500 miles, and he produced an important map upon which William Clark and later cartographers relied heavily. Trapping near the Three Forks with the Missouri Fur Company, he was killed by Blackfeet Indians in May 1810.

Jededian Strong Smith, January 6, 1799-May 27, 1831
Born in Jerico, New York, the 6th of 14 children, Jed was destined to influence the Westward expansion of the United States as few men have done. Influenced by Lewis and Clark’s exploits he joined Ashley’s trapping expedition in 1822, soon becoming a partner and then owner in 1827. A natural leader, devout Christian and tireless explorer, Jed’s discovery popularized the South Pass crossing of the Rockies. He was the first man to travel overland to California and first to ravel the coast from California to the Columbia. He survived near death from thirst and starvation, maulings of a grizzly and attacks by Arikara, Mojava and Kelewatset Indians. Killed by Comanches near Fargo Spring, Kansas, his body was never found but his legacy live on as his trails of discovery became the highways for America’s westward migration.

Born c. 1770, Died 1813, John Colter
A hunter for Lewis and Clark (1803-1806) Colter remained in the mountains to trap and explore. During his great journey of discovery he found “Colter’s Hell” west of Cody, Wyoming. Captured by the Blackfeet in 1808, he was forced to run for his life. Outdistancing the entire tribe for seven miles he survived, naked and weaponless, to become a legend in his own lifetime. John Colter was the first true “Mountain Man.”

A Tribute to James “Old Gabe” Bridger 1804-1881
Mountain man, hunter, trapper, fur trader, emigrant guide, and Army scout. Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1804 and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1812. Served as a blacksmith’s apprentice from 1818 to 1822. Came west with the 1822 Ashley-Henry Expedition. Discovered the Great Salt Lake in 1824 and visited what is now Yellowstone Park in 1830. In 1833 he became a full partner in the fur trading firm of Sublette, Fraeb, Gervais, Bridger, and Fitzpatrick. Anticipating the influx of immigrants he established Ft. Bridger to resupply and repair wagon trains. Jim served as a guide and scout for the Army until 1868. After his dischare Old Gabe retired to his farm in Missouri. However, by 1874, his health began to fall and he was blind. Jim’s only regret was that he would never see his beloved Rocky Mountains before his death. On July 17, 181, the Lord laid Old Gabe’s tired body to rest and set his spirit free to return at last to the mountains he loved.

In Tribute to Jim Bridger
Regarded most famous of the Rocky Mountain trappers and explorers who blazed the American West’s early trails of continental destiny and who frequented these environs throughout the mid-1800’s.

West 20 mile upriver towers Jim Mountain named for Jim Baker, a well known Bridger protege.

East 30 miles downriver the “Bridger Trail” crosses the “Stinking Water” (Shoshone River). This trail was established across the Big Horn Basin around 1864 by Jim Bridger (then working primarily as an emigrant and Army expedition guide). As a safer alternative route to the “Bozeman Trail” in traveling from the “Oregon-California Trail” to the Montana mines.

Jim Bridger epitomized the “mountain man” and his legacy endures, but only in context with many others. In all this breed never exceeded more than a few hundred. They came seeking adventure and fortune. Over half of them succumbed to the rigors of their profession: hostile elements, animals, Indeians, and starvation. Their names and remains are forever consigned-unrecorded-to the dust of the moutntains and plains where they “went under”, often in violent fashion. This marker also stands in their memory. Erected 1982.

Plaque #7: Osborn Russell, 1814-1892
Born June 12, 1814 in Bowdoinham, Maine, Russell went to sea briefly at age 16 then for three years was a trapper in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He joined Nathanial Wyeth’s 1834 expedition to deliver trade goods to the trappers’ rendezvous in the Rocky Mountains. Wyeth met disappointment in his enterprise but moved on to build Fort Hall. Russell helped to build the fort and stayed to maintain it until spring when he joined Jim Bridger’s trapping party. He soon declared his independence as a “free trapper” and pursued beaver until 1843.

Russell’s travels took him from Montana to Utah Lake as he crossed and recrossed the Rockies many times. All this while he felt an obligation to record his observations in his journal.

In 1843 he moved to the California/Oregon country where he became a miner, a merchant and at one time a judge. He died August 28, 1892, in Pacerville, California. He is gratefully remembered by all who read his “Journal of a Trapper” with its daily account of the activities and adventures of a trapper.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, 1799-1854
Mountain man, business man, western guide, Indian agent; born and educated in Ireland, emigrated to America at age 16, he joined Ashley’s trappers in 1823 and was appointed to leadership that year. He became a full partner in the Rocky Mountain Fur Co. in 1830. Tom battled with the Arickarees in 1823 and with the Gros Vents at Pierre’s Hole in 1832. These same Gros Vents attacked him a few weeks earlier as he rode alone east of the Tetons. His horses and weapons lost in flight, barely alive when rescued many days later, his hair had turned white from the ordeal. Tom had two nicknames, “White Hair” and “Broken Hand”, the latter from an encounter with a rifle ball during a Blackfoot attack. With the decline of the fur trade, Tom served as a guide to west-bound emigrants (1841-42), J. D. Fremont’s explorations (1843-44) and Col. Kerney’s expedition of 1845-46. Honorably served as a Federal Indian Agent from 1846 until his death February 7, 1854.

Hugh Glass, ?-1832(3)
Tough and independent, Glass had been a ship’s captain and impressed pirate, captured and adopted by the Pawnees and finally made his way to St. Louis to join Ashley and his trappers. While ascending the Missouri he was wounded in a battle with the Arikarees (Rees). Several weeks later he was attacked by a grizzly and “tore nearly all to peases.” Two men were paid to tend the old man until his death, but after several days they abandoned him knowing his death was certain and a Ree attack was imminent. Hugh recovered consciousness and crawled and hobbled 350 miles to Ft. Kiowa. When sufficiently recovered he headed back to the Rockies seeking those who had abandoned him.

Twice during the next ten months Glass was forced to flee for his life from Ree attack. He left Ashley’s men to work the Santa Fe trade for a few years but later returned to the land of his old enemies.

Hugh was finally killed by Rees at a river crossing during the winter of 1832-33.