Fort Bridger, Wyoming: Trading Post for Indians, Mountain Men and Westward Migrants

Founded in 1842 by mountain man Jim Bridger, Fort Bridger was one of the most important outfitting points for travelers on the Oregon Trail, riders of the Pony Express, the Overland Stage, and the Union Pacific Railroad. This southwestern Wyoming post is used in this work as a basis for an illustrated account of the Rocky Mountain West. The book explores reasons why American Indian behavior varied between helpfulness and aggression toward mountain men and emigrants. Also detailed are weapons of the frontier, Fort Bridger's role in the 1857 Mormon War, the 1867 Wind River Mountains gold rush, and the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872.