Before
arriving, many emigrants hoped that Ft. Bridger would be
a civilized outpost; perhaps something similar to Ft.
Laramie. Instead, Ft. Bridger was a crude collection
of rough-hewn log buildings that greatly disappointed the
travelers.
Emigrant
Edwin Bryant:
"The buildings are two or three miserable log cabins,
rudely constructed and bearing but a faint resemblance to
habitable houses."
Emigrant
Joel Palmer:
"It is built of poles and dabbed with mud; it is
a shabby concern. Here are about 25 lodges of Indians, or
rather white trapper's lodges, occupied by their Indian
wives. They have a good supply of skins, coats, moccasins;
which they trade for flour, coffee, sugar, etc."
The
fort was built in 1843 specifically to serve the emigrant
traffic. Unlike Ft. Kearny and Ft. Laramie, this fort was
privately owned and operated by the legendary Jim Bridger.
Jim
Bridger:
"I have established a small fort with blacksmith
shop and iron in the road of the emigrants. They, in coming
out, are generally well supplied with money, but by the
time they get there are in want of all kinds of supplies."
Emigrant
John Minto's experience at the fort was typical:
"I concluded to try if I could get a few dressed
deerskins for my double-barreled gun. Jim Bridger was doing
his trading--a powerful man, quick and sharp at a bargain.
He said, 'young man, I can't do it, we get few deerskins
here. I'll give you ten goat skins; that's the best I can
do.' I started to camp satisfied with my purchase."
One
key to Ft Bridger's success was its location. Unlike the
rest of the region, this spot had plenty of trees and fresh
water.
Emigrant
Elizabeth Dixon:
"It's a pretty place to see in such a barren country.
Perhaps there is a thousand acres of level land covered
with grass interspersed with beautiful stoney brooks and
plenty of timber."
By
the time he built the fort, Bridger had become the most
famous mountain man in the west. In his earlier days, he
had discovered the Great Salt Lake, and helped blaze new
trails across the west. In one adventure he took an arrow
in the back; an arrowhead that was finally cut out three
years later--without anesthetic.
Samuel
Parker was there for the 'operation:'
"It was a difficult operation because the arrow
was hooked at the point by striking a large bone; and cartilage
had grown around it. The doctor pursued the operation with
great self-possession and perseverance and the patient manifested
equal firmness."
Bridger
didn't operate his fort for very long--within a decade he
had moved on to other adventures. Yet Bridger's departure
was not a great loss for the Oregon-bound emigrants. The
opening of several shortcuts had put Ft. Bridger 100 miles
out-of-the-way. So, within a few years most of the emigrants
were avoiding the fort anyway.
Fort
Bridger
Official web site of the State Historical Site
