The annual 1838 Mountain Man Rendezvous will take place July 3rd through July 7th, 2024. The family friendly event takes place on the original site of multiple rendezvous and is totally undeveloped. Walk the same ground as the Trappers, Traders, Missionaries, and Indians of old!
The fun starts Wednesday July 3rd, with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. followed by entertainment, games and, and fellowship. Then the rendezvous activities begin on Thursday, July 4th, with black powder shooting, tomahawk and knife competitions and numerous seminars centered around the fur trapping era.
Beginning on the 4th of July, visitors and participants can enjoy breakfast and lunch in the mess hall (also known as the Roost) by trading a meal for a donation, which helps support the 1838 Rendezvous Association. ‘Traders Row’ is full of vendor tents, selling everything from artisan beadwork, furs, and top hats to knives and books. A shooting range is set up for participants and visitors alike, so anyone can try their hand at shooting black powder rifles. Throughout the day, historical demonstrations and seminars are scheduled and lots of kid-friendly games. There are nightly Council Fires where all matters of Rendezvous official business are discussed. There is also nightly musical entertainment, and games like the “frying pan toss” or the candy cannon, which is fun for kids and adults.
Founded in 1989 for the express purpose of preserving a rare historical landmark, the 1838 Rendezvous Association continues working toward that goal. Mountain men left no physical trace of their lives upon the western landscape and this site is dedicated to the men, women and children who moved so lightly upon the world that only the land and the river remain as a witness to those shining times. Please help us support preservation of the site by coming down to the reenactment, grabbing lunch and a cold drink, and be sure to visit Traders Row and support folks that have traveled to Riverton from all over the country to offer their wares to the people of Fremont County.
Join the fun and learn what the mountain man’s life was about!
Don’t miss the fun at the 1838 Mountain Man Rendezvous:
- Black Powder Shooting Matches
- Hawk/Knife Throws
- Games
- Nightly Council Fire
- Seminars
- Traders and more!
Sponsored post paid for by 1838 Rendezvous Association