James Mason DiaryFORT BRIDGER

WyomingJuly 12, 1850

Diary of James Mason

July 10 – traveled 21 m & En on Blacks fork traveled 15 miles without watter came to Black fork then 3 ¾ to hams

fork thence to CampJuly 11 – traveled 30 M & En on Black fork mistaken in the road & traveled long after night next morning Saw 2 men tied up for Stealing a horse &

muleJuly 12 – traveled 9 M & E on a smal

creek & good Spring passed fort Bridger there is no troops here but a trading post Kept by french & half

breeds

Fort Bridge

r

From Green River , WY to Fort Bridger,

WY

Diary of James Mason

California Oregon Trail from Independence, MO - to Hangtown (Placerville, CA)

Independence

Placerville

Ft Bridger - July 12

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger was first established in 1843 as a trading post by Jim Bridger and his partner, Louis Vasquez, on the on Black's Fork of the Green River. Planning to trade both with the Indians and the westward bound emigrants, the first "fort" was composed of two double-log houses about 40 feet long,  joined by a pen for horses, and provided a small blacksmith shop. Westward bound emigrants who looked forward to the stop and a break from the long monotonous days of traveling, were often disappointed upon their arrival at Fort Bridger. Unlike Fort Laramie, a "civilized" outpost, in their minds, Fort Bridger was little more than a crude collection rough-hewn log buildings.

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Jim Bridger

Fort Bridger, WY 1850

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

Fort Bridger, Wyoming

ENDJames Mason Diary

FORT BRIDGER Wyoming

July 12, 1850