This is Fort Bridger tons of people went to fort Bridger for the animal fur.
Jim was born March 17, 1804 Richmond V.A. died July 17, 1881 near Kansas City M.O. Jim was a mountain man, he spent 20 years walking in between Canada, Mexico and everything in between. He was known as one of the first of the white men to see the Yellowstone geysers (and the Great Salt Lake) and established Fort Bridger.
picture of Fort Bridger in Wyoming
Fun Facts about Jim Bridger
- He was the first to write about the Great Salt Lake.
- Jim Bridger and many other mountain men came in search of beaver. Others were: Etienne Provost, Miles Goodyear, and Jedediah Smith explored, trapped, and mingled with the Indians. They also named many places.
- Bridger partnered with Louis Vasquez, planned and built Fort Bridger, located on Black's Fork of the Green River. This was to become one of the main trading posts for the western migration. Bridger's post served many immigrants heading west.
- In June 1847 Bridger first met with the Mormon pioneers near the mouth of the Little Sandy River. At this meeting, Bridger and Brigham Young talked about settling in the Salt Lake Valley. Also during this meeting Bridger drew his map of the area on the dirt. Having been in the area, he was familiar with it and showed Brigham Young. He told Young of his concerns with planting in the Salt Lake area.
- Jim Bridger was good at mapping things out in his mind
- Bridger had 30+ years experience in the West as a fur trapper and mountain man.
- Bridger could provide U.S. military with maps from memory
- Jim Bridger had three Indian wives during his lifetime
- In 1850, he was looking for a different route to the South Pass, he found what would later be called Bridger's Pass. This shortened the Oregon Trail by 61 miles. Bridger Pass would later be the chosen route for both the Union Pacific Railroad and later Interstate 80.
This is a stamp of Jim Bridger
Jim Bridger is buried in Independence, Jackson County Missouri
This is what it engraved on his headstone
Celebrated as a hunter, trapper, fur trader and guide. Discovered Great Salt Lake and the South Pass
1827. Visited Yellowstone Lake and geysers 1830. Founded Fort Bridger 1843. Opened Overland Route By Bridger's Pass to Great Salt Lake. was guide for I.L.S Exploring Expeditions. Albert Storey Johnston's Army 1857, and G.M. Dodge in U.P. surveys and Indian Campaigns 1856-66. This monument is erected as a tribute to his pioneer work by Maj. Gen. G.M. Dodge .
Celebrated as a hunter, trapper, fur trader and guide. Discovered Great Salt Lake and the South Pass
1827. Visited Yellowstone Lake and geysers 1830. Founded Fort Bridger 1843. Opened Overland Route By Bridger's Pass to Great Salt Lake. was guide for I.L.S Exploring Expeditions. Albert Storey Johnston's Army 1857, and G.M. Dodge in U.P. surveys and Indian Campaigns 1856-66. This monument is erected as a tribute to his pioneer work by Maj. Gen. G.M. Dodge .
this is Jim Bridger's headstone
This is a picture of me by the Jim Bridger street in Centerville