Mountain Men
In between the Spanish explorers and the Gold Rush there was another step in the development of the mountain west. The Mountain Men or Fur Trappers who came into unexplored, un-mapped and newly acquired territory that the United States added through buying the Louisiana Purchase.
Heroes such as Christopher "Kit" Carson, John Colter, Jim Bridger, Jedidiah Smith, James Beckwourth, and Joseph Walker are examples of the adventurous men who contributed to the settling of the west.
In between the Spanish explorers and the Gold Rush there was another step in the development of the mountain west. The Mountain Men or Fur Trappers who came into unexplored, un-mapped and newly acquired territory that the United States added through buying the Louisiana Purchase.
Heroes such as Christopher "Kit" Carson, John Colter, Jim Bridger, Jedidiah Smith, James Beckwourth, and Joseph Walker are examples of the adventurous men who contributed to the settling of the west.
 John Colter |  James Beckwourth |  Kit Carson |
These men and many others like them. came west for one thing. It had been discovered that beaver pelt made good hats. Many people did the trapping themselves, but most people traded manufactured goods, like iron tools, and glass beads, with the Indians for furs.
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A system developed where buyers of pelts and sellers of pelts would come together in the spring/summer each year in a trade fair and social party called the "rendezvous" at the confluence of the Purgatoire and the
Arkansas rivers in the vicinity of where Las Animas, Colorado stands today. At rendezvous much drinking and gambling took place as well buying and selling furs.
The significance of beaver and other animal furs in the development of Colorado and indeed of the U,S. west can not be emphazied enough.
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Arkansas rivers in the vicinity of where Las Animas, Colorado stands today. At rendezvous much drinking and gambling took place as well buying and selling furs.
The significance of beaver and other animal furs in the development of Colorado and indeed of the U,S. west can not be emphazied enough.
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The Hat Jokes Are Over My Head
When beaver became scarce because of overtrapping, hat makers turned to silk threat. Men stopped chewing on their wooden pencils.
Everybody in the town admires the barber. They always take their hat off when visiting his shop.
These hat puns are beanie-th me.
What do you call a sad hat? A somber-ero.
My boss went into work with a hat, and I guess he is my super-visor.
When beaver became scarce because of overtrapping, hat makers turned to silk threat. Men stopped chewing on their wooden pencils.
Everybody in the town admires the barber. They always take their hat off when visiting his shop.
These hat puns are beanie-th me.
What do you call a sad hat? A somber-ero.
My boss went into work with a hat, and I guess he is my super-visor.