Jedediah Smith - Montana Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The marker text reads as follows: "One of the most famous trappers of the Rocky Mountain fur trade era was Jedediah Smith, who came west with St. Louis trader William Ashley in 1822. He spent his first winter in Montana at the mouth of the Musselshell River about 100 miles northwest of here. Over the next decade, Smith trapped and explored the Great Plains and Rockies. He re-discovered the South Pass in Wyoming in 1824 and established overland routes to California and Oregon. The trails Smith and his comrades blazed in the 1820s served thousands of emigrants during the great overland migrations of the 1840s and 1850s."

"Smith was no stranger to Montana. After wintering on the Musselshell, he explored the upper Missouri River and became well-acquainted with the Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers. Smith also worked his way through the Bitteroot, Big Hole, Clark Fork and upper Flathead valleys. By 1828, he was part-owner of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, which employed many legendary western fur traders and trappers like Jim Bridger, Bill Sublette and Tom Fitzpatrick. Trade opportunities with the Crow Indians eventually drew Smith to this region. In July, 1825, Smith and 20 other trappers floated the Bighorn and Yellowstone rivers to Fort Union at the confluence of the Missouri. The expedition reached the fort in mid-August after sustaining an attack to the east of here by hostile Blackfeet Indians."

Describe the area and history: Not much to see except Interstate 94. However, the Yellowstone River is just north of the rest area where this sign is located.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   05/16/2022 wildernessmama visited it 09/08/2016 PeterNoG visited it 08/06/2013 Benchmark Blasterz visited it 05/27/2008 Marine Biologist visited it 05/27/2008 lazyCachers visited it 05/12/2008 Markerman62 visited it

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