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

Hunt Janin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001 | ISBN-10: 0786408847 | ISBN-13: 978-0786408849

For nearly fifty years, Fort Bridger played a role in all major events of the 19th century Rocky Mountain frontier and westering experience. Founded in 1842 by mountain man Jim Bridger, this southwestern Wyoming post 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. Trappers, buffalo hunters, Forty-niners, soldiers and outlaws would pass through what is now the Fort Bridger State Historic Site. This post, or fort, is used 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. Several appendices are presented, including a discussion of gender in the westering movement and a selected chronology of frontier history. Interesting and highly detailed excerpts are taken from such primary sources as a trapper's journal and an 1850 account of buffalo butchering.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Well-told --True West --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Hunt Janin is a writer and researcher specializing in international issues and history. He holds degrees from Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley. He is also the author of The India-China Opium Trade in the Nineteenth Century (1999, $39.95). A native Californian, he lives in Vignoble, France.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786408847
• ISBN-13: 978-0786408849
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,887,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Giant rip-off, not about Ft. Bridger at all, written for readers digest!, March 3, 2007

By 

Rough Customer (on your six) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fort Bridger, Wyoming: Trading Post for Indians, Mountain Men and Westward Migrants (Paperback)

This $35 book I expected to be a well researched, highly detailed anyalsis of Fort Bridger, it's workings, construction, the people, post traders, trapers, soldiers, Indians, inner workings. I expected something that an author had taken decades to research and compile interviews, and research from far flung resources. WRONG! This book is written by a guy who lives in France for gosh sake, and he spent all of one half day, by his own admission, at the Fort!!! The author admits on page 2, that the book is a primer for the layman,not a narrowly focused work for the professional scholar! The author reveals such nuggets of research such as : Professional buffalo hunters were well organized and in the 1870s and 1880s shot millions of buffalo on a commercial basis for their hides alone, rather than for food or sport. .....Duh...Duh....ya reckon? ???
The biggest waste of 35 bucks of mine in a long time, this skimpy 181 page book is worth maybe two bucks for something to give your grandkids to play with. Do not buy this book!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought perspectives, November 4, 2005

By 

Andrew T. Sheehan "Lord of Fernhill Manor" (Ross, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fort Bridger, Wyoming: Trading Post for Indians, Mountain Men and Westward Migrants (Hardcover)

Great book, brilliant insights. I am sure the little people in Ross will find it facinating.