Welcome to Teton Pass
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 43° 29.814 W 110° 57.288
12T E 503654 N 4815998
Historical marker at the summit of Teton Pass on Hwy 22.
Waymark Code: WMECXR
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 05/08/2012
Views: 6
Text of Sign:
Indian artifacts dating back over 9,000 years have been found in the Teton Pass and Trail Creek areas. These findings are proof of the long history of this natural travel corridor between Jackson Hole and eastern Idaho. Early Indian groups used this route to access hunting and plant gathering areas in Jackson Hole.
Early trappers ad explorers used Teton Pass as the main travel corridor accessing the Jackson Hole area. Historic documents tell of John Hoback, Jacob Reznor, and Edward Robinson leading Wilson Price Hunt and a party of Astorians over Teton Pass in 1811 on their way to the Pacific Northwest. Jim Bridger guided William Raynolds of the Topographical Engineers over Teton Pass in 1860, in search of a suitable railroad route to the west. Teton Pass was eliminated as a potential railroad route.
I the early 1880s, the first homesteaders began traveling over the Pass to Jackson Hole. The first horse-drawn wagon was driven over in 186 by Joe Enfanger and Adolf Miller. At that time, it took about two weeks for adventuresome travelers to get over the Pass.
In the late 1880’s, mail service from Victor, Idaho to Jackson Hole began, via horseback, wagon, ski and snowshoe. In 1912 the Oregon Short Line Railroad was completed to Victor, Idaho. This facilitated more tourists and freight coming into Jackson. To accommodate the needs of these travelers, road houses were built along the route between Victor and Wilson so passengers and livestock could rest.
Beginning in 1913, the Forest Service graded the first roadway up the Pass from Wilson - a vast improvement over the Wagon Road. The old Pass Road, initially widened in 1928, was used until 1969, when the present highway over Teton Pass was finally completed.
Marker Name: Welcome to Teton Pass
Marker Type: Rural Roadside
Group Responsible for Placement: U.S. Forest Service
Addtional Information: Not listed
Date Dedicated: Not listed
Marker Number: Not listed
Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location. Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Wyoming history please include that in your log.