The Metis acted as early trappers, guides, interpreters,voyageurs, coureurs des bois, and canoe paddlers. They hunted buffalo and invented the Red River cart and York boat.

This is a very brief site on the man who came to monopolize the fur trade, John Jacob Astor. Hyperlinks for additional information.

This section of the larger website Discovering Lewis & Clark examines hunters and hunting on the expedition.

Journal entry provides details of Lewis and Clark's journey in 1805 over the Bitterroot Divide where they encountered the Salish Indians.

This is a resource about the state of Utah. Includes images and articles on everything from geology to famous people in the state.

A large collection of historical photos showing the traditional lifestyles of the Metis. The photos are sorted into categories, e.g., food preparation, hunting, trapping, etc.

Rene Richard was a native of Switzerland who worked as a trapper and hunter to avoid the hardships of farming life that his family endured. He came to appreciate Alberta's north and went to France to train as an artist. When he returned,...

After a brief discussion of Manifest Destiny in other parts of country, read about the Texas rebellion against Mexico, the battles against Santa Anna, and the treaties that made Texas an independent country. [pdf]

This museum article provides fifteen thumbnail images of Albert Bierstadt's paintings are available for enlarging, with biographical information on a separate page.

Learn about the Hudson's Bay Company monopoly of the fur trade in Western Canada from 1821-1850. This Alberta Online Encyclopedia article has pictures, hot links to important terms and a Listen link that features audio from the Heritage...

From PBS New Perspectives on the West comes this biography on William Bent that discusses his life as a trader at Bent's Fort in Colorado in the early 1800s.

Read about Jim Bridger's exploits as fur trader, mountain man, entrepreneur, and military guide. His knowledge of the Rocky Mountains was invaluable. (From Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office)

See a chart showing the number of settlers using the Oregon Trail between 1840 and 1859 by scrolling down to "Wagon Trains."

On-line research center features numerous resources dedicated to the history of the Mountain Men in the American West. This project includes primary sources, images, maps, artwork, newspaper articles, artifacts, and links to related...

This resource provides a biography about Jedediah Smith, centering primarily around his explorations of the West in the 19th century.

A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which students explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"

Adobe fort built in 1833 to trade with Plains Indians and trappers, on Santa Fe Trail.