The American Mountain Man, (sculpture).

The American Mountain Man, (sculpture).

Rousu, R., sculptor.

The American Mountain Man, (sculpture).

Memorial dedicated June 10, 1978. Colter bust dedicated 1981. Bridger bust dedicated 1982.

Digital Reference:

Busts: bronze; Pillars: mortared sandstone and metal.

Busts: each approx. 30 x 30 x 12 in.; Pillars: each approx. 7 ft. x 2 ft. x 30 in.

(Lower front of Colter bust, raised:) ROUSU/J. COLTER/1807/ROUSU (Lower front of Bridger bust, raised:) J. BRIDGER/R. ROUSU/82 (Polished granite plaque on front of central pillar, incised:) THE AMERICAN MOUNTAIN MAN/DEDICATED TO ALL MOUNTAIN MEN/KNOWN AND UNKNOWN FOR THEIR/ESSENTIAL PART IN THE OPENING/OF THE AMERICAN WEST./WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE/THE WAY THEIR UNIQUE LIFESTYLE/HAS PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCED/OUR OWN./ERECTED BY THE BROTHERHOOD OF/THE AMERICAN MOUNTAIN MEN/JUNE 10, 1978 (Metal plaque on the front of the pillar with the Bridger bust gives a brief biography of Bridger and the metal plaque on the front of the pillar with the Colter bust gives a brief biography of Colter) (Plaques mounted on the cross-bars give brief biographies of George Drouillard, Jedediah Strong Smith, John Colter, and James Bridger) signed

Commemorative plaques and busts set on three sandstone pillars. The three pillars are set in a row, each with a inscribed plaque, are joined together by cross-bars. Both sets of cross-bars have two more plaques mounted on them. Atop one side pillar is a bust of John Colter, a bearded man wearing a fringed shirt with an open collar. Atop the other side pillar is a bust of Jim Bridger wearing a broad brimmed hat and a buckskin jacket over a collarless shirt.

History -- United States -- Westward Expansion

Portrait male -- Colter, John -- Bust

Portrait male -- Bridger, Jim -- Bust

Homage -- Drouillard, George

Homage -- Smith, Jedediah Strong

Occupation -- Other -- Explorer

Occupation -- Other -- Pioneer

Occupation -- Hunter -- Trapper

Dress -- Accessory -- Hat

Outdoor Sculpture -- Wyoming -- Cody

Old Trail Town, 1831 Demaris Drive, Cody, Wyoming 82414

Erected by the Brotherhood of the American Mountain Men and dedicated to all mountain men for their part in opening the American West. John Colter, ca. 1770-1813, and George Drouillard, ca. 1775-1810, were both hunters on the Lewis and Clark Expedition who explored and trapped on their own afterwards. Jedediah Strong Smith, 1799-1831, was the first man to travel overland to California and to travel the coast from California to the Columbia. James "Old Gabe" Bridger, 1804-1881, discovered the Great Salt Lake, established Fort Bridger, and served as a guide and scout for the army. IAS files contain full transcription of plaque text.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Wyoming survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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