- Fort Bridger Rendezvous
Fort Bridger Rendezvous
History
The
Fort Bridger Rendezvous is an annual reenactment of trading which took place during the Fur Trade Era between mountain men, Native Americans, fur trappers, and Traders. The Fur Trade Era was from 1825-1840. It was caused by the popularity of beaver skin hats on the east coast of the United States and Europe. In response to the high demand fur trappers and traders headed west to hunt for beaver. In the fall and winter the beavers would be hunted and their pelts would be tanned. Then in the spring and summer these trappers would travel over 1,000 miles one way to St. Louis so they could sell their product for supplies. The suppliers decided it would be more effective coming to the mountain men and trading supplies for the furs there instead of St. Louis, thus the Rendezvous was born. The first Rendezvous took place in southern Wyoming in 1825.Every year over Labor Day weekend in Wyoming the town of Fort Bridger holds a reenactment of the Rendezvous which took place during the Fur Trade Era. Marksmanship contests are held with rifles of the time period, along with axe throwing contests and archery. Foods of the time period are also sold, and the Fort Bridger Historical site has workshops people can get involved in to learn about what life was like in those days.
References
*Fur Trade from 1825-1840 in Wyoming
*Fur Export to EuropeSources
http://www.fortbridgerrendezvous.net/
* [ [http://www.fortbridgerrendezvous.net/ Fort Bridger Rendezvous ] ] Retrieved on 07/02/08http://www.wyomingtourism.org/cms/d/mountain_man_rendezvous.php
* [ [http://www.wyomingtourism.org/cms/d/mountain_man_rendezvous.php Wyoming Mountain Main Rendezvous - Fort Bridger, Riverton, Pinedale - WyomingTourism.org ] ] Retrieved on 07/02/08http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/Far-west-old/Fort_Bridger-croquet1873.jpg
* [http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/Far-west-old/Fort_Bridger-croquet1873.jpg] Retrieved on 07/02/08http://userpages.aug.com/bdobson/bridger.html
* [ [http://userpages.aug.com/bdobson/bridger.html Fort Bridger Photos ] ] Retrieved on 07/02/08
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