Museum Houses Mountain Men

The San Bernardino County Museum's Hall of History is temporarily home to mountain men. The museum's newest exhibit, "Turn Left at the Rockies," opened Saturday, Feb. 7 and introduced visitors to the legendary fur traders of the Rocky Mountains - known as "mountain men," who came to Southern California between 1826 and 1850. The exhibit focuses on the trade of beaver fur, a highly valued commodity in the 18th and 19th centuries. First acquired by trade with Native Americans in North America, beaver fur was taken in the early 1800s by fur companies organizing trapping expeditions, quickly making beaver scarce and beginning the search for new beaver streams. Mountain man Jedediah Smith set off in search of beaver streams in 1826, and his path south brought him to the Colorado River and across the Mojave Desert to Mission San Gabriel, the first American to enter California overland. His path was followed by other trappers and traders, at first seeking fur, then California horses and mules, and finally gold. “The period of time between 1826 and 1850 was selected as the focus of the exhibit because those few years were a time of amazing change in California,” said Jennifer Reynolds, a spokesperson for the museum. “Southern California transitioned from the Spanish Mission era to the Mexican Rancho era, and then, with the discovery of gold and the Gold Rush, plunged into statehood. Former mountain men like Kit Carson, Isaac Slover, John Brown Sr., James Waters, and others were right in the middle of these events, right here in our county.” Mountain men also found new niches in their rapidly changing world as guides, scouts, Indian agents and businessmen. Several former mountain men were instrumental in the development of the state of California and the county of San Bernardino. Using artifacts, extracts from their own journals and hands-on displays, “Turn Left at the Rockies” explores myths about mountain men, their ways of life, relationships with Native Americans, and their stories after they arrived in southern California. “The consultation of historian Nick Cataldo was a great help in putting together this exhibit,” said Reynolds. “We also thank the San Bernardino County Museum Association for funding which helped make the exhibit possible.”