Plaque Text for Wyoming Landmark #SU0012.92:
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 3,000 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.
More about the Green River Rendezvous:
That pretty well sums it up!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Wyoming State Historical Society!
- Become a member of the Museum of the Mountain Man!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
SE corner of US-189 and Nighthawk Lane
Daniel, WY 83115
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!