First Residents and Explorers
I. Prehistoric people
a. "Sheepeaters"
b. Shoshone: c. 1400 Population in Wyo. in 1800: 2,000
came from Great Basin; obtained horses after Pueblo Revolt
c. Crow: c. 1500 Population in Wyo. in 1800: 4,000
northern and northwestern Wyoming
d. Kiowa: 1600s Population in Wyoming in 1800: 0
pushed out by Sioux c. 1760s
e. Sioux: c. 1760s Population in Wyoming in 1800: 0
7 major divisions but only three in Wyoming: Oglala, Brule, Hunkpapa
f. Cheyenne: c. 1700s Population in 1800: 3,500
Joined with Sioux to push out Crow in 1822, but pushed out by Sioux in 1830s
g. Blackfeet: c. 1800 Population in Wyo, 1800: >400
epidemics in 1781, 1837, killed about 2/3 of population in Wyo.
h. Arapaho: c. 1820 Woodlands Indians from Minnesota area
II. "Historic" period
III. Possibility of Spanish expeditions into Wyoming?
Sheridan County discoveries--swords, metal pieces from Spain
Was it dropped by Spaniards or part of Indian trade network?
IV. LaVerendrye brothers, 1742
Probably not actually in Wyoming, but viewed it from present South Dakota
V. Larocque and other French-Canadian trappers, c. 1805
a. Other unknown trappers likely to have explored area, but no written accounts
b. Precursors to Lewis and Clark include Alexander Mackenzie who traversed Canada to the Pacific in 1793.
c. American John Ledyard attempted to cross Siberia and then travel across the Bering Strait and into western North America in 1788.
VI. Lewis and Clark expedition, 1804-1806--Sacajawea: How the "myth" of Sacajawea evolved over time.
VII. John Colter, 1806-07
a. traveled West with Lewis and Clark, but left on return trip just before return to St. Louis
b. went back up Missouri River with two others and eventually joined Manual Lisa party
c. traveled by foot south into Wyoming looking for trading partners
VIII. Other Anglo-American travelers and residents?
Edward Rose cabin in Big Horn Basin, c. 1812
IX. The Overland Astorians; 62 men, 1 woman, 2 children, 82 horses initially
X. Reverse Astorians and "Discovery" of South Pass, 1812-13
Significant Names and Terms
Togwotee Meriwether Lewis John Colter Edward Rose
Chief Washakie William Clark “overland Astorians” Robert Stuart
Crazy Horse Sacajawea John Jacob Astor “reverse Astorians”
Pueblo Revolt (1680) Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard Wilson Price Hunt South Pass
LaVerendrye brothers Manuel Lisa “Tonquin” Oregon Trail